‘Treat Him With Dignity’: Pat Cummins Speaks Up for Jailed Imran Khan

Australian Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins has joined a growing chorus of cricketing voices seeking proper medical care and humane treatment for Pakistan cricket legend and former prime minister Imran Khan, saying the jailed 73-year-old deserves to be treated with dignity.

Cummins on Friday publicly backed an appeal initiated by former international captains after concerns were raised over Imran's health and well-being in prison. Sharing a video of former Australia captain Greg Chappell expressing concern, Cummins said he hoped a court-ordered medical assessment would be allowed to proceed without obstruction and that Imran's family would continue to have access to him.

“I hope Imran Khan is treated with the dignity anyone deserves,” Cummins said in a post on X.

The intervention is significant because Cummins is among the first active international cricketers to publicly lend his voice to the campaign. Earlier, 21 former international captains, including Indian cricket great Sunil Gavaskar, wrote to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, calling for humane treatment and appropriate medical attention for Imran.

Imran has been imprisoned in Rawalpindi since 2023 following his conviction in corruption cases, charges he has denied while maintaining that the action against him is politically motivated. He recently underwent a medical examination in Islamabad before being sent back to prison.

His sons, Sulaiman and Kasim, have also voiced fears about their father's safety, alleging that his life could be under threat. The concerns have added urgency to calls for transparency over his medical condition and continued family access.

For the cricketing world, Imran remains far more than a former political leader facing legal battles. He is one of Pakistan's greatest sporting icons, having led the country to its historic and still only ODI World Cup triumph in 1992.

Now, with Cummins adding the voice of an active cricket captain to the campaign, pressure is growing for Imran's health, medical care and basic dignity to remain above political divides.