Imran Khan has emergency surgery

Imran Khan has devoted much of his life to charity work

Surgeons have performed an emergency operation on former Pakistan captain and all-rounder Imran Khan to remove an obstruction in his small intestine.

The procedure was carried out on Monday at Lahore's Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital after Imran, 56, complained of severe pain in his abdomen.

A hospital spokesman said afterwards: "Mr Khan is now out of danger."

Imran, who captained Pakistan to World Cup success in 1992, was a member of the national parliament for five years.

He is in intensive care and has been advised to remain in the hospital for at least three days.

The hospital where he is being treated is named after Imran's mother and was established following a charity appeal launched by the ex-cricketer himself, after she died of cancer.