Treat Imran Khan with dignity: Pat Cummins on the former Pakistan captain’s health problems
Concerns about Imran Khan’s health and treatment in prison have been fueled by Australian captain Pat Cummins, who has backed former Australian captain Greg Chappell’s call for the ex-Pakistan captain to receive proper medical care and access to family.
Khan, 73, has been imprisoned since August 2023, while concerns about his physical condition have grown in recent months. A group of former international captains, including Chappell, they requested an independent assessment of his healthespecially amid reports of deteriorating eyesight.
Cummins added his voice to the call, stressing that the problem should be viewed from a humanitarian perspective.
“I add my support to the GC and other former international captains. I hope the court orders a medical to allow his course to proceed and that family visits continue. I hope Imran Khan is treated with the dignity anyone deserves,” Cummins said.
CHAPPELL RAISES QUESTIONS OVER IMRAN KHAN’S ISOLATION
Chappell expressed concern over Khan’s reported condition and the impact of prolonged isolation on his physical and mental well-being.
Speaking on The Grade Cricketer podcast, Chappell said he found it difficult to understand how anyone could cope with spending such a long period in isolation.
“He’s been in isolation for three years. I don’t know how anyone copes with that. Imran is as strong, physically and mentally, as anyone I’ve played cricket against, but I don’t know how you cope with absolute isolation for three years,” Chappell said.
The former Australia captain also raised concerns about Khan’s reported living conditions, saying he believed the former Pakistan captain had limited access to books and spent most of his time in the dark.
“I don’t think he’s allowed to read books. He just has to sit there and behave himself and he’s in the dark most of the time. That’s not good for your mental health, and as your mental health deteriorates, so will your physical health,” he added.
Chappell recalled meeting Khan in Pakistan six years earlier, describing him then as “a strong, robust older man”.
“I met him in Pakistan six years ago and he was still a strong, robust older man. That’s not the case anymore. Apparently he’s struggling with the sight in his right eye,” Chappell said.
PCB COMPLAINT THROUGH INTERVIEW PROVIDED BY GENTLEMAN INSPECTOR
The issue spilled over into the ongoing England-Pakistan Test at Lord’s after Sky Sports aired an interview with Khan’s sons Kasim and Sulaiman on the first day. The brothers spoke about their father’s health and claimed that his condition had deteriorated significantly during his stay in prison.
The Pakistan Cricket Board lodged a formal complaint against Sky Sports via broadcast. Reports also claimed that the PCB had threatened to prevent the Pakistani players from returning to the field after lunch if the interview was broadcast. Pakistan eventually continued to play and avoided a Test boycott.
The PCB’s decision to file a complaint also drew a sharp reaction from Australian batsman Usman Khawaja. Reacting to the development, Khawaja said:
“This has to be a joke.
The controversy added another layer to the growing debate surrounding Khan’s treatment. While the PCB protested the political nature of the broadcast, former cricketers continued to focus on the humanitarian aspect, with Chappell calling for concern for Khan’s welfare and Cummins supporting the call for dignity, medical assessment and permanent access to the family.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
28 Aug 2026 17:16 IST