In a uncommon and highly effective show of cross-border solidarity, 14 legendary worldwide cricket captains, together with Indian icons Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, have issued a joint enchantment to the Authorities of Pakistan on February 17, 2026.
The letter, addressed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, expresses ‘profound concern’ over the deteriorating well being of the 1992 World Cup-winning skipper Imran Khan, who has been incarcerated since 2023. This extraordinary intervention by the worldwide cricketing fraternity highlights the extreme medical disaster dealing with the 73-year-old, particularly stories of serious imaginative and prescient loss. By setting apart political and nationwide rivalries, these sporting titans have referred to as for fundamental human dignity and specialised take care of a person they describe as a “world sporting icon.”
14 legends demand dignity for Pakistan iconic captain Imran Khan
The enchantment, spearheaded by former Australian captain Greg Chappell, serves as an ethical plea from a “Who’s Who” of cricketing historical past, that includes names like Clive Lloyd, Allan Border and Steve Waugh. The signatories emphasised that whereas their aggressive battles on the sector have been fierce, the respect for a peer of Khan’s stature should transcend the boundary rope throughout his time of private disaster.
The letter states: “As fellow cricketers who perceive the values of honest play, honour, and respect that transcend the boundary rope, we imagine that an individual of Imran Khan’s stature deserves to be handled with the dignity and fundamental human consideration befitting a former nationwide chief.”
By involving figures like Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, the petition carries immense weight within the subcontinent, reminding the authorities that the eyes of the world are on the therapy of a person who led Pakistan to its best sporting triumph. The captains collectively urged the federal government to honor the spirit of sportsmanship: “Cricket has lengthy been a bridge between nations. Our shared historical past on the sector reminds us that rivalry ends when the stumps are drawn and respect endures.”
Imran Khan’s alarming medical stories from Adiala Jail
The catalyst for this high-profile intervention was a sequence of distressing stories regarding Khan’s well being inside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, most notably a declare that he has misplaced 85% of the imaginative and prescient in his proper eye. Based on a report submitted to the Supreme Court docket by a court-appointed lawyer on February 10, 2026, the previous Prime Minister is affected by persistent blurred imaginative and prescient and retinal points that have been allegedly ignored for months by jail authorities.
The 14 captains have particularly demanded: “Speedy, satisfactory and ongoing medical consideration from certified specialists of his selecting to deal with his reported well being points.” Whereas a authorities medical board just lately claimed a slight enchancment in his imaginative and prescient to six/9 with glasses, his household and the PTI occasion stay skeptical, describing the state-conducted examinations as “malicious” and “unacceptable” with out the presence of private physicians. The captains’ letter underscores the urgency, stating: “Latest stories regarding his well being, significantly the alarming deterioration of his imaginative and prescient whereas in custody, have triggered us profound concern.”
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The total record of legendary signatories: From Kapil Dev to Clive Lloyd
The petition represents a unprecedented collective effort, uniting captains from India, Australia, England, the West Indies, and New Zealand in a singular humanitarian trigger. Past the speedy well being issues, the letter advocates for “humane and dignified circumstances of detention in keeping with worldwide requirements, together with common visits by shut members of the family and honest and clear entry to authorized processes.”
The record of signatories is a testomony to Khan’s enduring legacy as one of many best all-rounders the sport has ever seen: Michael Atherton, Allan Border, Michael Brearley, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, David Gower, Kim Hughes, Nasser Hussain, Sir Clive Lloyd, Stephen Waugh and John Wright, alongside Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev. Their joint assertion concludes with a strong reminder of Khan’s 1992 legacy: “He led Pakistan to their historic 1992 Cricket World Cup victory, a triumph constructed on talent, resilience, management, and sportsmanship that impressed generations throughout borders.”
🚨 14 former worldwide captains, together with Greg Chappell, Sunil Gavaskar, and Clive Lloyd, have formally requested the Pakistan govt to make sure Imran Khan receives obligatory medical therapy. pic.twitter.com/y7oO10DWGd
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) February 17, 2026
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