Sourav Ganguly, the iconic former Indian captain, has publicly lamented the plight of jailed Pakistani leader Imran Khan, calling for urgent medical aid and respectful handling. His words add weight to an international outcry from cricket’s elite.
‘I pray his condition betters with fitting treatment,’ Ganguly told reporters. ‘From leading Pakistan to World Cup glory to steering the nation as PM, his contributions demand care and dignity.’
This follows a powerful one-page manifesto by 14 retired captains—spanning India, Australia, England, West Indies, and more—beseeching Pakistan for Khan’s wellbeing. Incarcerated since 2023, the 1992 champion faces escalating health crises, including reported vision loss.
Their missive insists on ‘prompt, sufficient, ongoing medical attention from experts,’ alongside dignified detention aligning with human rights standards and family visitation rights. ‘Sight deterioration reports in jail have shaken us profoundly,’ it stated.
The captains lauded Khan’s legacy: a World Cup win symbolizing prowess and grace, plus his democratic mandate and sporting fame. ‘Political differences aside, his legacy is undisputed,’ they wrote.
Notable voices include Border, Atherton, Brearley, Lloyd, Waugh, and Wright. Ending on unity, they noted, ‘Cricket forges bonds across borders; honor persists after play. Authorities must embrace decency.’
Ganguly’s intervention spotlights cricket’s moral compass, where former foes unite for humanity, reminding us of sport’s power to foster empathy amid geopolitical tensions.