Australia Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins threw his weight behind the ongoing campaign by former international captains seeking medical care for former Pakistan prime minister and captain Imran Khan, adding that he should be treated with "dignity".
Last week, 22 former captains, wrote a letter to Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging him to ensure Imran receives proper medical care in prison. The letter included captains from India, Australia, England, West Indies and New Zealand. It was a follow-up to a previous letter 14 captains had written in February, one that received no reply from the Pakistan government.
"Adding my support here to GC (Greg Chappell) and the other former international captains," Cummins posted on X, quoting a clip of Chappell in which he expressed his own concerns about Imran's well-being.
"I hope the court ordered medical assessment be allowed to run its course, and that family visits continue. I hope Imran Khan is treated with the dignity anyone deserves."
Imran has been jailed in Rawalpindi since August 2023 after being convicted on corruption charges. His health has been the focus of growing scrutiny over the past few weeks, with his sons stepping up their efforts to get him appropriate health care. Last week, Pakistan's Supreme Court ordered him to be admitted to Shifa Hospital in the capital Islamabad. Instead, he was taken to the state-run PIMS, and returned to prison shortly after a check-up.
Cummins is the first active captain to voice his support for Imran's medical care.
On Thursday, the PCB made a formal complaint to Sky Sports after the broadcaster aired an interview with Imran's sons during the lunch interval on the first day of the Lord's Test. Cricinfo understands the PCB considered the option of Pakistan not taking the field after the break in protest.
The Pakistan government rejected allegations that Imran had been mistreated in prison or denied contact with his family and lawyers in a statement to Associated Press last week, saying that he had received more than 900 visits from his family, lawyers and doctors since his imprisonment in August 2023.