‘I urge other cricketers to speak up’: Moin Khan makes emotional appeal to Imran Khan

NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan batsman Moin Khan has joined a growing chorus of voices expressing concern over the deteriorating health of former Pakistan captain and 1992 World Cup captain Imran Khan, urging the country’s authorities to ensure the 73-year-old receives proper medical care in prison.Moin, a key member of Pakistan’s World Cup-winning side under Imran, released an emotional video message on Saturday appealing to the government, Adiala jail authorities and other cricketers to stand up for the former all-rounder. His hit came shortly after batting great Javed Miandad also made an impassioned appeal for Imran’s support.Imran has been incarcerated in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail since 2023 after being convicted in corruption cases, which he continues to deny. Concerns about his health have intensified in recent months with reports of health problems and allegations of inadequate medical care.

“His right to medical care should be respected”

Moin, who played alongside Imran during Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup campaign, said the former captain’s contribution to Pakistan cricket cannot be forgotten and urged the authorities to fulfill his right to medical treatment.“Our Captain Imran Khan as you all know is currently in Adiala Jail and his condition is very bad at present. I will once again urge the authorities, the Government of Pakistan and all those people who are running Adiala Jail,” Moin said in his video.“My demand is that our captain’s right as a former prime minister, a citizen of Pakistan, his right to medical care should be respected. Whatever he needs, it should be taken care of,” he added.Moin then directly appealed to other cricketers to publicly support Imran.“Besides, I also urge other cricketers to speak up and show their support to him. Imran Khan’s contribution to Pakistan cricket (is huge) and all of us who played in his era learned a lot from him. He gave a lot to Pakistan cricket,” he said.The plea comes amid growing concerns over Imran’s health and follows a similar public appeal from Miandad. The Supreme Court of Pakistan recently ordered that Imran be taken to a hospital for a medical examination. He was subsequently taken to hospital before returning to prison.

Former cricketers rallied behind Imran

The concerns also prompted a group of former international captains to demand better medical care for Imran. 22 former captains from countries including India, England, West Indies and New Zealand wrote to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to request adequate healthcare and constitutional safeguards for the former Pakistan captain. The letter followed the earlier dismissal of 14 former captains in February.Australian captain Pat Cummins also publicly supported the former captains’ call.Australian great Greg Chappell, who played an important role in rallying former cricketers in support of Imran, recently painted a disturbing picture of his condition.“He’s not getting better at the moment. You know, it’s hard to get information from a physical standpoint, but I saw a video clip recently, I guess, of his last trip to the hospital where he was put in a wheelchair to get him there from wherever he was, wherever he was going, and he didn’t look very well, like he was looking around,” Chappell said.“I mean, 73 years old, so of course, you know, he’s getting old, but, you know, I met him in Pakistan 6 years ago and he was still a strong, robust older man. That’s not the case anymore. Apparently his right eye (has developed a disability) … is struggling. He’s been in isolation for 3 years,” he added.This problem has spread to the world of cricket. The Pakistan Cricket Board lodged a formal complaint with Sky Sports after an interview with Imran’s sons, Suleiman and Kasim Khan, was broadcast during the lunch break on the first day of the ongoing Test at Lord’s.