Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan (Reuters)

Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan (Reuters)

Former England captain Michael Atherton has revealed why he joined a group of 21 former international cricketers in calling on Pakistani authorities to ensure imprisoned former Pakistan captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan receives proper medical treatment. Imran led Pakistan to their only men’s ODI World Cup title in 1992 and was considered one of the finest all-rounders the game has ever seen, before moving into politics and eventually becoming the country’s prime minister.

Atherton, speaking on a Sky Sports cricket podcast alongside former England captain Nasser Hussain, said the appeal was not simply about ensuring medical treatment for Imran. But I suppose the basic theme was the way the state has tried to airbrush Imran almost out of existence, which is increasingly difficult to do in a social media age,” Atherton said on a Sky Sports cricket podcast in the company of Hussain. But I would like to support my friend, whom we admired and played with,” Kapil said.

He also expressed concern over what he described as an attempt to erase the former Pakistan leader from public life. “I don’t blame Pakistani cricketers for not speaking up. They have to live there. The former India captain stressed that the appeal was not about intervening in Pakistan’s legal process but about ensuring basic care and dignity for a prisoner. “We want him to get the best treatment, [that’s] what we are asking for. We are not asking for anything else, we are not asking for any replies, we are requesting,” the former India captain added. His imprisonment has continued to draw international attention, while concerns over his health have added another dimension to the controversy surrounding his detention.