Seven Former Australian Captains Urge Government to Intervene Over Imran Khan's Health in Jail

Seven former Australian cricket captains have urged Foreign Minister Penny Wong to intervene diplomatically over the continued detention and reported health concerns of former Pakistan prime minister and 1992 World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan. The group has expressed concern about Khan’s treatment in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi and asked the Australian government to raise the matter with Pakistani authorities.

The appeal was led by Greg Chappell, who represented Australia in 87 Tests and later coached the Indian men’s team. Chappell has also sought a meeting with Wong to discuss Khan’s circumstances. The other signatories are Allan Border, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, Kim Hughes, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh, bringing together several of the most prominent figures in Australian cricket history.

In their letter, the former captains said Chappell had last met Khan in Islamabad in 2022, when he was serving as Pakistan’s prime minister and appeared fit and healthy. They said it was difficult to reconcile that impression with reports emerging about his condition in detention. The group clarified that they were writing not as diplomats or political actors, but as former Australian captains who believed they needed to speak out.

Also Read: Karnataka Athletes Supriya B, Sindhushree G Await Japan Visas Ahead Of Asian Games

The letter also highlighted Khan’s standing in Australia because of his cricketing achievements and public contributions. The former captains noted that Khan led Pakistan to its only men’s World Cup title and later served as the country’s prime minister. They also referred to his role in establishing cancer hospitals and said Australians held him in high regard both as a cricketer and as someone who had contributed to public welfare in Pakistan.

Chappell told Hindustan Times Digital that the group had issued another appeal because of their fear that Khan could die in prison. The letter referred to concerns reportedly raised by Khan’s sons and sisters over his health and treatment, including limited medical care, restricted family contact and minimal access to legal counsel. The former captains said they were not taking a position on the legal or political cases against Khan, but maintained that the treatment of anyone in detention was a matter of basic humanity.

The appeal follows earlier international concern over Khan’s imprisonment. Khan, now 73, has been in prison since 2023 after losing power as Pakistan’s prime minister in 2022 and was later sentenced to 14 years following a corruption conviction. He faces more than 100 cases, which he and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party have described as politically motivated. Earlier this year, 21 international cricket captains also appealed for humane treatment of Khan, while figures including Pat Cummins, Brian Lara, Wasim Akram, Ramiz Raja, Javed Miandad and Michael Holding have separately spoken about his situation.

Also Read: Novak Djokovic Falls Out of ATP Top 10 For First Time Since 2018 After US Open Exit