Sunil Gavaskar, Greg Chappell among 14 former captains to come out in support of Imran Khan

As reported by The Agethe captains include some of cricket’s most famous names, most of whom have played against Imran during their careers. Greg Chappell drafted the petition, which was signed by Ian Chappell, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Clive Lloyd, Allan Border, Michael Atherton, Nasser Hussain, Michael Brearley, David Gower, Steve Waugh, John Wright, Kim Hughes and Belinda Clark.

“Recent reports about his health – particularly the alarming deterioration of his vision while in detention – and the conditions of his imprisonment over the past two and a half years have caused us deep concern,” the letter said.

“Imran Khan’s contributions to the game are universally admired. As captain, he led Pakistan to their historic 1992 Cricket World Cup victory – a triumph built on skill, resilience, leadership and sportsmanship that inspired generations across borders.

“Many of us have competed against him, shared the field with him, or grown up with his all-round brilliance, charisma and competitive spirit. He remains one of the best all-rounders and captains the sport has ever seen, and deserves the respect of players, fans and administrators alike.”

Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar were among the voices calling for proper medical treatment for Imran last week, with former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja urging Pakistan’s cricketers to raise their voices in support.

“Apart from cricket, Imran Khan served as Prime Minister of Pakistan and led his nation during a challenging period,” the letter said. “Regardless of political perspectives, he has the honor of being democratically elected to the highest office in his country.

“We earnestly call on the Government of Pakistan to ensure that Imran Khan receives immediate, adequate and continuous medical attention from qualified specialists of his choice to address his reported health issues, humane and dignified conditions of detention in accordance with international standards, including regular visits by close family members, and fair and transparent access to legal processes without undue delay or obstruction.”

Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Federation of Human Rights are among the organizations that have expressed concern about the fairness of his trial and the state of his conditions in prison. His sons said Imran remained in a “death cell” where he was subjected to psychological torture. The Pakistani government has repeatedly denied all such claims.

“Cricket has long been a bridge between nations. Our shared history on the field reminds us that rivalries end when the stumps are drawn, and respect continues. Imran Khan embodied that spirit throughout his career.

“We appeal to authorities to honor this now by upholding the principles of decency and justice. This appeal is made in the spirit of sportsmanship and general humanity, without prejudice to any legal proceedings.”

Captains list

Michael Atherton, Allan Border, Michael Brearley, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell Belinda Clark, Sunil Gavaskar, David Gower, Kim Hughes, Nasser Hussain, Sir Clive Lloyd, Kapil Dev, Stephen Waugh, John Wright