Concerns regarding the health of legendary Pakistan all-rounder and ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan has been widespread. Greg Chappell and other former captains wrote a letter to the current government regarding the treatment of the 74-year-old. Australia captain Pat Cummins has also come out in support of the cause.
The 33-year-old took to X and wrote, “Adding my support here to GC and the other former international captains. I hope the court ordered medical assessment be allowed to run its course, and that family visits continue. I hope Imran Khan is treated with the dignity anyone deserves.”
Adding my support here to GC and the other former international captains. I hope the court ordered medical assessment be allowed to run its course, and that family visits continue. I hope Imran Khan is treated with the dignity anyone deserves
— Pat Cummins (@patcummins30) August 28, 2026
Chappell appeared on the Grade Cricketer podcast and said, “He’s been in isolation for 3 years. I don’t know anyone who deals with that. Imran is strong both mentally and physically as anyone, but one doesn’t know how to deal with absolute isolation. He isn’t allowed to read books. He has to sit there and behave himself, and stay in the dark most of the time.”
The 78-year-old added, “That’s not good for your mental health, which can deteriorate, and the same is the case with your physical health as well.” Greg also recalled meeting the 1992 World Cup-winning skipper in Pakistan six years ago and said: “He was still strong and robust, but an older man, but that is not the case anymore.”
“We went back to our former captains. We had 14 that wrote the first letter, and we now have more. Kepler Wessels from South Africa and Michael Gatting are two others who supported the second letter. It is really about keeping it in people’s minds, and this is not a political move, but more about human rights, that nobody should be kept in such conditions.”
Imran Khan’s sons interview causes storm
On Thursday, Sky Sports broadcast an 18-minute interview conducted by former English skipper Michael Atherton with Imran’s sons Kasim and Sulaiman. It was reported by various sections of the media that the move didn’t sit well with PCB, which wanted to stage a protest during the ongoing Lord’s Test.
It was also reported that the PCB wanted Babar Azam's side not to take the field after the lunch break. Eventually, theEnglish Cricket Board was able to convince the visiting side against any such move. SKY Sports’ interview has caused a massive storm.
Kasim, in his interview with Atherton, said, “It is not very clear what they are doing, just blatantly trying to kill him. They want to keep him in jail as long as possible and silence him. The last time he was able to speak to our aunties and anyone else, he said the conditions have severely worsened. He has been relating it to other political prisoners who have been killed or who have died in prison.”