Former Pakistan cricket stars Javed Miandad, Moin Khan, and Basit Ali have publicly called for imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan to receive the court-ordered medical treatment they say he has so far been denied.
The appeal has drawn wider support from the cricketing world. Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins became the first active international captain to publicly back the calls, while a separate group of 22 former international captains wrote directly to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urging that Imran Khan receive proper medical care.
What the Court Ordered and What Happened Instead
The Supreme Court ordered on August 18, 2026, that Imran Khan be transferred to Shifa International Hospital, where a multidisciplinary medical board was to examine and treat him. Instead, authorities took him to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), a different facility than the one named in the court’s order.
A government-appointed medical panel subsequently declared Imran Khan “medically fit,” and he was returned to Adiala Jail. His family has alleged that the Supreme Court’s order was not properly complied with, given that he was taken to PIMS rather than Shifa International Hospital as directed.
Government’s Response
The government has rejected allegations of mistreatment, maintaining that Imran Khan received medical attention and has had access to visitors during his detention. Officials have not directly addressed why he was taken to a different hospital than the one specified in the court order.
A Cricket World Uniting Around One of Its Own
The cricketers’ intervention carries particular symbolic weight given Imran Khan’s own cricketing legacy, most notably as the captain who led Pakistan to its 1992 Cricket World Cup title. That reference point has featured prominently in the appeals from his former teammates and rivals, many of whom are now using their standing in the sport to press for what they describe as basic medical rights regardless of political affiliation.
With prominent voices from both Pakistani and international cricket now weighing in, the pressure on the government to clarify compliance with the Supreme Court’s order appears likely to continue. The intervention comes during an active week for Pakistani cricket figures in the media, with former wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal also drawing attention for incorrect on-air comments about Don Bradman’s Test record.
Who Is Speaking Out
Cricket Legends Demand Medical Care for Imran Khan as former teammates and cricketing icons who once shared the field with him during his playing days say they feel a personal responsibility to speak up about his wellbeing. Their public statements have added a high-profile, non-political voice to an issue that has largely been debated along party lines until now.
What They Are Asking For
The former cricketers are specifically calling for an independent medical board to examine Imran Khan and for the courts to ensure he receives timely, adequate treatment consistent with his rights as an inmate. They have stopped short of commenting on the legal merits of his cases, framing their appeal strictly as a humanitarian and health-related concern rather than a political statement.
Background on the Health Concerns
Concerns about Imran Khan’s health in custody have surfaced periodically since his imprisonment, with his party and family members previously raising similar demands for access to private doctors and regular medical checkups. Authorities have maintained that standard jail medical protocols are being followed, though such assurances have not fully quieted public concern.
Reactions and What Comes Next
The intervention by respected cricket figures has drawn wide attention on social media, with many praising the former players for using their public standing on a humanitarian issue. It remains to be seen whether the appeal will influence any court decision on medical access, but it has undeniably renewed national conversation around the topic.