NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Moin Khan has joined the growing chorus of voices expressing concern over the deteriorating health of former Pakistan captain and 1992 World Cup-winning leader Imran Khan, urging the country’s authorities to ensure that the 73-year-old receives proper medical treatment in jail.Moin, a key member of Pakistan’s World Cup-winning side under Imran, released an emotional video message on Saturday in which he appealed to the government, Adiala jail authorities and fellow cricketers to stand up for the former all-rounder. His intervention came shortly after batting great Javed Miandad also made an impassioned appeal in support of Imran.Imran has been incarcerated at Adiala jail in Rawalpindi since 2023 after being convicted in corruption cases, which he continues to deny. Concerns over his health have intensified in recent months, with reports of medical problems and allegations of inadequate medical care.
‘His right to medical care should be honoured’
Moin, who played alongside Imran during Pakistan’s celebrated 1992 World Cup campaign, said the former captain’s contribution to Pakistan cricket could not be forgotten and urged authorities to fulfil his right to receive medical treatment.“Our captain Imran Khan, as you all know, is currently in Adiala jail, and his condition is quite bad at present. One more time, I will urge the authorities, the government of Pakistan and all those people who run the Adiala jail,” Moin said in his video.“My request is that our captain’s right, as a former prime minister, as a citizen of Pakistan, his right to medical care should be honoured. Whatever he needs, it should be seen to,” he added.Moin then made a direct appeal to fellow cricketers to publicly support Imran.“Besides, I also urge other cricketers to speak up and voice their support for him. Imran Khan’s contribution to Pakistan cricket [is immense] and all of us who played in his era learnt a lot from him. He has given Pakistan cricket a lot,” he said.The plea comes amid increasing concern over Imran’s health and follows a similar public appeal from Miandad. Pakistan’s Supreme Court recently ordered that Imran be taken to hospital for medical examinations. He was subsequently taken to hospital before being returned to prison.
Former cricketers rally behind Imran
The concerns have also prompted a group of former international captains to call for better medical care for Imran. 22 former captains from countries including India, England, the West Indies and New Zealand wrote to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif seeking adequate healthcare and constitutional safeguards for the former Pakistan captain. The letter followed an earlier appeal by 14 former captains in February.Australia captain Pat Cummins has also publicly backed the former captains’ appeal.Australia great Greg Chappell, who played an important role in bringing former cricketers together in support of Imran, recently painted a worrying picture of his condition.“At the moment, he’s not getting any better. You know, from a physical point of view, it’s hard to get information, but I saw a video clip the other day, I’m assuming, of his latest trip to hospital where he was put into a wheelchair to get him to, from wherever he was, to wherever he was going, and he didn’t look well at all. He didn’t look robust. He didn’t look like he could really… get around very much,” Chappell said.“I mean, 73 years of age, so obviously, you know, he’s getting older, but, you know, I met up with him in Pakistan 6 years ago, and he was still a strong, robust older man. That’s not the case anymore. His right eye apparently [has developed a disability]… he’s struggling. He’s been in isolation for 3 years,” he added.The issue has also spilled into the cricketing world. The Pakistan Cricket Board lodged a formal complaint against Sky Sports after an interview with Imran’s sons, Suleiman and Kasim Khan, was aired during the lunch break on the first day of the ongoing Test at Lord’s.
