Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has added his voice to a growing chorus of cricket legends demanding proper medical care and dignified treatment for jailed former Pakistan prime minister and World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan.

 

"I hope his health recovers and I hope he gets the right treatment," Ganguly told reporters. "He has taken Pakistan to the world map, being the captain of the Pakistan Cricket Team and then the PM of Pakistan. I am sure he must be looked after and respected."

 

Sourav Ganguly on Imran Khan:

'I hope his health recovers and I hope he gets the right treatment. He has taken Pakistan to the world map, being the captain of the Pakistan Cricket Team and then the PM of Pakistan. I am sure he must be looked after and respected' pic.twitter.com/fELppx5Bxs

— Rizwan Ghilzai (Remembering Arshad Sharif) (@rizwanghilzai) February 18, 2026

 

Ganguly's remarks follow a joint appeal by 14 former international captains from five Test-playing nations, who submitted a petition to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif demanding improved prison conditions and appropriate medical attention for Khan. 

 

Former Australia captain Greg Chappell initiated the petition, which The Age reported was delivered to Sharif. Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, Kim Hughes, Mike Atherton, Nasser Hussain, Mike Brearley, David Gower, Clive Lloyd, and John Wright all put their names to it.

 

The former captains expressed "profound concern" over Khan's deteriorating health, particularly a sharp decline in vision during his time at Adiala Prison in Rawalpindi, where he has spent over two years on corruption charges. 

 

They called for specialists of his choosing to provide medical care, regular family visits, and fair legal proceedings without further delay. Gavaskar described the situation as "terrible," pointing to a long friendship with Khan that predates their on-field rivalry.

 

Former Pakistan cricket stars Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Ramiz Raja, Waqar Younis, and Shahid Afridi have also spoken out publicly, pressing authorities to arrange urgent medical attention for Khan. 

 

Reports indicate Khan has lost 85 percent of the vision in his right eye and gets severely restricted access to family and personal doctors. He has been behind bars since August 2023.

 

However, the federal government's constituted medical board reported an improvement in former prime minister Imran Khan's right eye vision.