Jailed Imran Khan has found support from seven former Australia captains, who have written to Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong to raise concerns over the former Pakistan captain’s treatment in detention.
Allan Border, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, Kim Hughes, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh are the signatories to the letter, which raises concerns over Khan’s health, medical care and access to his family and legal counsel.
The former Australian captains made it clear that they were not taking a position on the legal or political cases against Khan. Instead, they said they were speaking as former cricket captains who felt compelled to raise what they described as a matter of “basic humanity”.
The letter to Wong is the latest in a series of appeals from prominent figures in cricket over Khan’s treatment while in detention in Pakistan.
IMRAN KHAN’S HEALTH RAISES CONCERN
Khan, 73, has been incarcerated at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi since 2023 after being convicted in corruption cases. His prolonged detention and reported health concerns have led to calls from his family and former cricketers for him to receive proper medical attention.
The latest letter noted that Khan’s sons and sisters have repeatedly raised concerns over his condition, including limited medical care, restricted contact with his family and minimal access to legal counsel.
The former Australian captains said their concern was focused on the treatment of a person in detention, regardless of his political position.
This is not the first time former international captains have written to Pakistani authorities over the issue. On August 23, 22 former captains from around the world wrote to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, calling for better medical treatment for Khan.
That letter urged authorities to allow a medical board ordered by Pakistan’s Supreme Court, including doctors chosen by Khan, to conduct a full and independent assessment of his health. It also called for weekly family visits, which had been ordered by the court, to be restored without interruption and for any treatment recommended by the medical assessment to be provided without delay.
The August appeal followed an earlier letter in February signed by 14 former international captains.
AUSTRALIAN CRICKET GREATS SPEAK UP
The latest intervention adds some of Australia’s biggest cricketing names to the growing list of former players calling for Khan to receive proper care.
Greg Chappell had also sought a meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Wong last month to discuss the matter on behalf of the group. However, he has not received a response.
Several former Pakistan cricketers have also spoken publicly about Khan’s situation, including Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram and Moin Khan. Current Australia captain Pat Cummins has also previously called for the former Pakistan skipper to be treated with dignity.
West Indies great Brian Lara was among the most recent high-profile former captains to speak out. Lara said he was struggling to understand how someone who had once been a source of hope and inspiration for Pakistan could now find himself in a situation where he was not being cared for with compassion and dignity.
The latest letter from the seven former Australian captains continues that international cricketing appeal, while carefully keeping the focus away from Khan’s political and legal battles and on his treatment in detention.
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