Former Australia captains urge Penny Wong over Imran Khan’s detention

Seven former Australian cricket captains have written to Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressing humanitarian concerns over the detention of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Cricinfo reported.

The letter is signed by Allan Border, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, Kim Hughes, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh. They stated they were writing “not as diplomats or political figures, but as former captains who felt compelled to speak up”.

The group clarified that it does not take a position on the legal or political issues concerning Mr Khan, describing those as matters for Pakistan alone. Their concern focuses solely on the treatment of individuals in detention, which they described as “a matter of basic humanity, whatever their politics”.

This appeal follows earlier interventions by former international cricketers supporting Imran Khan, the ex-Pakistan cricket captain and prime minister. On August 23, twenty-two former international cricket captains from various countries wrote to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging improved medical treatment for Khan and stating that the care he was receiving did not meet a Supreme Court directive.

The August letter detailed three requests: permitting the medical board appointed by the Supreme Court—which includes Khan’s own doctors—to conduct a full and independent health assessment, especially regarding reported vision loss in his right eye; reinstating weekly family visits without interruption or administrative delays as ordered by the Court; and ensuring any recommended treatment from the medical assessment is provided promptly.

This was preceded by a letter in February signed by 14 former international captains. Since then, Pakistani cricket figures Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram and Moin Khan have also spoken out on the matter. Australia’s current captain, Pat Cummins, has similarly expressed concern.

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