Seven former Australian cricket captains have urged Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong to intervene over concerns surrounding the health and continued detention of former Pakistan Prime Minister and 1992 World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan.
The group, which includes Greg Chappell, Allan Border, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, Kim Hughes, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh, has written to Wong seeking diplomatic intervention over Khan’s treatment while he remains imprisoned at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
Greg Chappell, who last met Khan in Islamabad in 2022 when he was serving as Pakistan’s prime minister, said the reports about Khan’s current condition were difficult to reconcile with the healthy person he remembered. The former Australian captain has also sought a meeting with Wong to discuss the situation.
In their letter, the seven former captains said they were speaking out not as diplomats or political figures, but as former Australian cricket leaders who felt compelled to raise concerns about Khan’s welfare. They highlighted his contribution to cricket, noting that he led Pakistan to its only men’s ODI World Cup title in 1992.
The former cricketers also pointed to Khan’s work outside the sport, particularly his role in establishing cancer hospitals in Pakistan. They said Australians have long held him in high regard because of his achievements in cricket and his contributions to Pakistani society.
Concerns about Khan’s health have intensified in recent weeks, with his family and supporters raising allegations about his detention conditions and access to medical care. The former prime minister has remained in prison amid multiple legal cases, while his supporters continue to call for greater attention to his welfare.
The intervention by the former Australian captains adds an international dimension to the controversy surrounding Khan’s imprisonment. Their appeal comes amid growing calls from former cricketers and public figures for authorities to ensure that the former Pakistan captain receives appropriate medical attention and humane treatment.
The Australian government’s response to the former captains’ request will be closely watched as concerns over Khan’s health and detention continue to generate international attention
