Australia's Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins on Friday, 28 August lent his support to a petition led by former international cricketers, including ex-Australia captain Greg Chappell, demanding dignified treatment and court-directed medical care for jailed former Pakistan captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan. The petition, addressed to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has been signed by 21 former international captains and calls for independent medical checks and uninterrupted family access for Khan.

What Cummins Said

Posting on his X account, Cummins 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.' The statement is notable given the diplomatic sensitivities surrounding cricket's relationship with Pakistan.

Who Signed the Petition

The letter carries signatures from a cross-section of the game's most recognised names, including Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Dilip Vengsarkar, Sir Alastair Cook, Michael Atherton, Steve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, and Nasser Hussain. The signatories described themselves as 'former colleagues and rivals who share a bond forged on the cricket field' that 'transcends the borders and disputes that too often divide countries.'

Three Core Demands

The petition lays out three specific demands: a comprehensive health evaluation by a Supreme Court-directed medical board that includes Khan's personal physicians; uninterrupted weekly family visitation rights; and immediate implementation of any recommended medical treatment. The appeal follows a reported controversy in which Khan was examined by a state-appointed team at a government facility, rather than being transferred to a private hospital as ordered by Pakistan's top court.

Greg Chappell's Concerns Over Khan's Health

In a recent episode of The Grade Cricketer podcast, Chappell raised detailed concerns about Khan's deteriorating condition. 'I mean, 73 years of age, so obviously, you know, he's getting older, but I met up with him in Pakistan six 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 three years,' Chappell said.

Chappell added that he had seen recent footage of Khan being moved in a wheelchair, and expressed alarm at the apparent physical decline. 'I don't think he is allowed to read books. He's pretty much just got to sit there by himself. And he's in the dark most of the time. So that's not good for your mental health. And as your mental health deteriorates, your physical health is going to deteriorate,' he said.

Background: Imran Khan's Detention

Imran Khan, now 73, led Pakistan to their maiden Men's ODI World Cup title in 1992 and served as the country's Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022. He has been in custody since August 2023, facing multiple charges. His party and aides maintain the cases are politically motivated — a claim Pakistani authorities have consistently denied. The petition notes that Khan has spent more than three years in custody and expresses 'grave concern' over reports of significant vision loss in his right eye. The joint letter states: 'Whatever the legal and political arguments surrounding his case, the basic decency of ensuring a court-ordered medical process is actually completed is not, in our view, a controversial request.'

With cricket's biggest names now publicly aligned on the issue, pressure on Pakistani authorities is likely to intensify ahead of the international cricket calendar.