Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev join cricket legends in urgent appeal for Imran Khan’s medical care

A group of cricketing legends, including India’s Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, along with 14 other former international captains, have signed a formal petition urging the Pakistani government to provide immediate and adequate medical care for jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The petition, drafted by former Australian captain Greg Chappell and delivered to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday, comes amid reports that Imran has lost 85 percent of vision in his right eye due to an untreated infection and alleged neglect in prison.

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His family and supporters have reportedly been denied visits, and he is being held in a small cell described as a “death cell,” according to his son Sulaiman in December 2025.

14 Former International Cricket Captains, including Padma Bhushan Sunil Gavaskar, Padma Bhushan Kapil Dev, Greg Chappell, Stephen Waugh, write to the Government of Pakistan regarding the reported condition of Imran Khan, former Prime Minister and former Captain of the Pakistan… pic.twitter.com/X0gmL2nE28

— ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2026

The appeal calls for urgent medical attention, detention conditions in line with international standards, and fair, transparent access to legal processes without undue delay.

The petition was signed by a global coalition of former captains, including Chappell, Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Ian Chappell, Kim Hughes, and Belinda Clark from Australia; Michael Atherton, Nasser Hussain, Michael Brearley, and David Gower from England; Clive Lloyd and John Wright from the West Indies and New Zealand; and Gavaskar and Dev from India.

The signatories emphasised that “rivalry ends when the stumps are drawn” and urged the Pakistani government to act responsibly.

No former Pakistan captains signed the petition, although last week several, including Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shahid Afridi, used social media to call for proper medical care for Imran.

Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have been in jail since August 2023 following his ouster from Pakistan’s leadership in 2022 and face a growing list of corruption charges.