Kathmandu— Nearly two dozen former international cricket captains have appealed to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding the medical care of former prime minister and cricketing icon Imran Khan. The appeal follows Khan’s brief checkup at a government hospital in Islamabad and subsequent return to jail, despite a Supreme Court order directing his treatment at a private facility with a specialized medical board. The cricketers are also requesting family access for Khan, as stipulated by the court.

International Appeal for Treatment

Twenty-two former cricket captains from around the world signed a letter on Sunday urging Sharif to provide Khan with appropriate medical attention. Among those signing were Indian legends Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar, alongside Sri Lanka's Arjuna Ranatunga, West Indies’ Clive Lloyd, Australia’s Greg Chappell and Allan Border, and England’s Alastair Cook. The group emphasized they were writing not as political figures, but as former colleagues who shared a sporting connection with Khan.

Court Orders and Hospital Transfers

Pakistan's Supreme Court had previously ordered that Khan be moved to the private Shifa hospital in Islamabad and remain there until September 16. The court also mandated the formation of a medical board, including his physician sister Uzma Khan, to assess his health concerns. However, Khan was unexpectedly taken to the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) from Rawalpindi jail late Thursday, exceeding the court’s deadline, and returned to jail early Friday after only a few hours.

Previous Concerns and Government Response

This is not the first time concerns have been raised about Khan's treatment. In February, a group of 14 former cricketers – including Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, and Greg Chappell – had previously written to Sharif requesting more “humane” treatment for Khan. Following the recent events, Prime Minister Sharif has established an inquiry committee, led by a bureaucrat, to investigate why a previously recommended heart diagnostic test was not administered at the government hospital.

Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party continues to demand his immediate transfer to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad. The situation remains ongoing as authorities address both the medical concerns and legal directives surrounding Khan's care.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.