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Seven former captains from Australian cricket have united in a bold stand that no one saw coming for Imran Khan. The cricket legends have written to Foreign Minister Penny Wong, raising humanitarian concerns about the detention of former Pakistan captain and prime minister Imran Khan.
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The seven players are Allan Border, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, Kim Hughes, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh. They have stressed they were acting purely as former captains, not as political figures. In their letter, they made clear they take no position on the legal or political case against Khan, describing it as a matter for Pakistan alone.
Seven former Australian captains urge humanitarian action over Imran Khan’s detention: 'he will die…’
It comes after the earlier letter by 22 cricket captains who urged the humane treatment of Imran. The force is now joined by seven additional players. Their focus, they said, is “the treatment of any person in detention… a matter of basic humanity, whatever their politics.”
The captains highlighted reports of limited medical care, restricted family contact and health problems, including loss of vision in one eye. Greg Chappell had earlier requested a meeting with Wong on the group’s behalf but has yet to receive a response. It came after Imran’s son alleged that the former player is in danger to his life in an interview.
Letter asks for basic humanity
Khan, who led Pakistan to the 1992 World Cup and later served as prime minister, has been held in custody in Pakistan for an extended period. Family members and supporters have repeatedly raised concerns about his conditions of detention. The intervention by the high-profile Australian cricket figures adds to growing international attention on Khan’s situation.
The letter reads that Imran Khan was last seen by Chappell back in 2022 in Islamabad when he was fit. It further reads:
“It is hard to reconcile that image with the reports now coming out of his detention, and that is why we write to you today, not as diplomats or political actors, but as former Australian captains who felt we should speak up.”
The letter highlighted both his efforts as a player and as a prime minister. It read that Khan led Pakistan to its only World Cup title, while as a PM, he ‘has helped improve the lives of Pakistanis by building cancer hospitals.’
The letter, a copy of which is available with Hindustan Times Digital, also read:
"We take no position on the legal or political case against him. That is Pakistan's business. But the treatment of any person in detention is a matter of basic humanity, whatever their politics.”
The letter stated that they are not speaking as diplomats or political actors but as ‘former Australian captains’ as they felt like they should ‘speak up.’ Additionally, when HT Digital reached out to Chapell and asked about the reason behind the seven captains issuing another appeal, he replied:
“We are concerned that he will die in jail.”
The letter has urged basic facilities for the legendary all-rounder who has been imprisoned since 2023. It came after he lost power as the prime minister of Pakistan. He was then sentenced to 14 years in prison after being convicted of corruption.
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