Former Australian cricket captains ask foreign minister to intervene over Imran Khan’s detention

Seven former Australian Test captains, among them Greg Chappell, Allan Border, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, Kim Hughes, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh, signed a letter to Foreign Minister Penny Wong asking her to raise Imran Khan’s prison treatment with Pakistani officials. Khan, who led Pakistan to a World Cup victory and served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, has been incarcerated since 2023 and received a 14-year sentence for corruption, with his health reportedly worsening in solitary confinement, including loss of sight in one eye.

The cricketers emphasize that their concern is purely humanitarian and request a direct diplomatic appeal, while avoiding any stance on the legal case. Wong’s office noted a July meeting with Pakistan’s foreign minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, but the letter seeks further action. Earlier this year, a broader group of former international captains also called for better prison conditions for Khan. Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting rejected claims of punitive treatment, stating the prisoner receives appropriate food and exercise facilities.