Reports that Imran Khan has all but lost the sight in his right eye have prompted a measured yet firm response from several of Pakistan’s most recognisable cricketers. The former captain and Prime Minister, now 73, has been held largely in solitary confinement since August 2023 and, according to his legal team, an untreated infection has caused “severe vision loss”. Government representatives reject any suggestion of neglect.
Former fast-bowling protégés Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis voiced their concerns first, both stressing the need to separate medical issues from politics.
“It is heartbreaking to hear our skipper Imran Khan going through health issues,” Wasim posted on X. “I sincerely hope the authorities take this seriously and ensure he receives the best possible medical care. Wishing him strength, a speedy recovery, and a full return to good health.”
Waqar echoed the appeal minutes later. “Putting politics aside, our national hero who gave us our greatest glory on the sporting field, a cancer hospital [which] helped so many, including my own mother, is suffering a health emergency and requires urgent treatment. I humbly request the related authorities he gets the appropriate treatment in a timely manner. Get well soon skipper.”
The fast-bowling pair owe much of their early development to Imran’s stewardship in the late 1980s and early ’90s. Their words carry particular weight inside Pakistan’s cricket community, but other voices have followed.
Shoaib Akhtar, currently in the United States on a fundraising trip for the Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital founded by Imran, added his support. “I’m deeply saddened to hear the news of him losing vision in his eye,” he wrote. “I hope he gets the best treatment and I’m wishing him a speedy recovery.”
Shahid Afridi tweeted that access to doctors is a “basic right and should be provisioned”, while Ramiz Raja told followers, “Seeing Imran Khan suffer and lose vision in one eye is an emotional meltdown!” Mohammad Hafeez and a handful of younger players have posted shorter messages under the same general theme: politics aside, medical care first.
Sympathy has crossed national lines too. Former India batter Ajay Jadeja urged current and former Pakistan players “to keep speaking up until proper treatment is guaranteed”, noting cricket’s shared history and Imran’s standing in the broader South Asian game.
How serious is the condition?
Precise details are hard to verify. Lawyers acting for Imran claim an infection went unaddressed for weeks, causing significant, perhaps permanent, sight loss. Officials at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi insist he has been examined and that “all reasonable facilities” have been offered. No independent medical report has been published.
Politically charged backdrop
Imran faces multiple convictions, all contested, ranging from graft allegations to contempt of state institutions. His supporters argue the charges are designed to sideline him before the next general election, a position government spokespeople dismiss as groundless. That wider standoff colours every aspect of his incarceration, including something as apparently straightforward as a trip to hospital.
Why cricketers speak out
In Pakistan, cricket and public life overlap more than in many countries. Imran led the 1992 World Cup side, later channelled that popularity into philanthropy, and finally into politics. Players who grew up idolising him feel a degree of obligation—and, some say, moral leverage. When a figure such as Wasim or Waqar comments, local media listen, and political figures often feel pressure to respond.
Next steps
For now, the calls remain just that—calls. Unless a court order or administrative decision allows outside specialists to examine Imran, uncertainty will linger. His legal team are preparing another petition; the government says procedures will be followed “in due course”.
Cricket followers, meanwhile, watch from a distance, balancing respect for the rule of law with the conviction, voiced by many of the game’s biggest names, that basic health care should not be a matter of negotiation.
