ISLAMABAD: Seven former Australia cricket captains have written to Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, expressing concern over the reported health, medical care and treatment of former Pakistan prime minister and cricketer Imran Khan during his detention.
The letter was signed by Allan Border, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, Kim Hughes, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh. The former captains said they were raising the matter in their capacity as former cricket captains rather than as diplomats or political actors.
Former Captains Focus on Humanitarian Concerns
According to reports, the former cricketers said their concerns were focused on the treatment and welfare of a person in detention rather than on the legal or political cases involving Khan.
The letter referred to concerns raised by Khan’s family regarding his health, access to medical facilities, family meetings and legal consultations. The former captains urged the Australian government to consider raising the humanitarian concerns with Pakistani authorities.
Imran Khan, a former Pakistan captain who led the country to its 1992 Cricket World Cup title, has been in detention following his conviction in corruption-related proceedings.
Broader Cricket Community Raises Concerns
The Australian captains’ appeal follows an earlier initiative involving more than 20 former international cricket captains, who had also raised concerns about Khan’s welfare.
Greg Chappell had previously sought a meeting with Penny Wong to discuss the matter. According to reports, he had not received a response to that request at the time of the latest appeal.
The intervention by the former Australian captains adds to an ongoing international cricket community campaign focused on Khan’s reported health and detention conditions.