'Poor guy has been behind bars for three years': Ramiz Raja gives update on Imran Khan's condition

NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has spoken about the condition of Imran Khan, saying the former Pakistan Prime Minister is holding up despite spending nearly three years in prison. Ramiz spoke about Imran during a recent episode of the ‘Stick to Cricket’ podcast, where he was joined by former England captain Alastair Cook and broadcaster David Lloyd.

The discussion came as concerns around Imran's health and treatment continue to grow. A group of 21 former international captains from nine cricketing nations has written to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, asking for proper medical care and humane treatment for the 1992 World Cup-winning captain.



Ramiz says Imran is in isolationThe conversation about Imran started after Ramiz revealed, during the podcast, that he had been convinced to take over as Pakistan Cricket Board chairman by Imran when he was Prime Minister. Lloyd then asked Ramiz about Imran's current situation.

Lloyd: What are Imran Khan’s circumstances right now?

Ramiz: He is in isolation. He’s got a lot of fans, but it’s just that the poor guy has been behind bars for three years now. It’s been a tough one for him.

Cook: Is he okay, though, physically?

Ramiz: Just a week back, there was some problem with his eye that seems to have been sorted, but otherwise, he’s holding up. I mean, he’s got a solid temperament, as we all know.

21 former captains write to Shehbaz SharifThe comments came after 21 former international captains wrote to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, renewing their appeal for proper medical treatment and better conditions for Imran. The group includes Indian cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Dilip Vengsarkar. The appeal followed concerns that a recent medical examination did not fully meet the directions issued by Pakistan's Supreme Court.

Imran, who led Pakistan to their historic 1992 World Cup triumph, has been in prison since 2023 following multiple legal cases.

In their latest appeal, the former captains made three specific requests. They asked for the court-directed medical board to complete its independent assessment, for weekly family visits to continue without interruption and for any treatment recommended by the assessment to be provided without delay.

Greg Chappell, who took the initiative for the letter, said: "We're not asking Pakistan for anything unusual — just that a court order most countries would take for granted is actually carried out"

The signatories also made it clear that they were not seeking to interfere in Pakistan's legal proceedings.

"We do not presume to adjudicate Pakistan’s domestic legal processes. That is not our place, and it was not the spirit in which we wrote in February. But we do ask, again, respectfully: 1. That the medical board directed by the Supreme Court — including Mr Khan’s own doctors — be permitted to complete a full and independent assessment of his health, particularly the reported loss of vision in his right eye. 2. That the weekly family visits reinstated by the Court be honoured without interruption or administrative delay. 3. That whatever the outcome of that medical assessment, the treatment recommended by it be provided without delay. Imran Khan is 73 years old and has now spent more than three years in custody. Whatever the legal and political arguments surrounding his case, the basic decency of ensuring a court-ordered medical process is actually completed is not, in our view, a controversial request. It is one we believe every nation that plays this game would recognise as fair. We hope this matter can be resolved expeditiously and with the dignity Mr Imran Khan deserves. Yours in cricket,"

Among the signatories are Michael Atherton, Alex Blackwell, Allan Border, Michael Brearley, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, Alastair Cook, Lee Germon, Adam Gilchrist, David Gower, Kim Hughes, Nasser Hussain, Clive Lloyd, Arjuna Ranatunga, Andrew Strauss, Steve Waugh and John Wright.