Seven former Australian cricket captains call on Australian Foreign Minister to raise concerns over Imran Khan’s detention

Seven former Australian cricket captains have written to Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong to express humanitarian concerns over the detention of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. Crisinfo reported.

The letter sent to the minister was signed by Allan Border, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clarke, Kim Hughes, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh, who explained that they were writing “not as diplomats or politicians, but as former captains who felt obliged to speak out.”

In the letter, “the group makes clear that it does not take any position on the legal or policy case against Mr. Khan,” describing it as a Pakistan-only issue.

They said they were concerned about the treatment of everyone in custody, calling it “a matter of basic humanity, regardless of their policies.” This is the latest appeal from a group of highly respected former international cricketers in support of Imran Khan, the former Pakistani cricket captain and Prime Minister.

On August 23, twenty-two former international cricket captains from around the world wrote to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, calling for better medical care for Imran Khan and stating that the care provided to him was not in accordance with the Supreme Court directive.

The letter makes three specific requests: 1. to allow a Supreme Court-led medical panel, including Imran’s own doctors, to conduct a full and independent assessment of his health, particularly the reported loss of vision in his right eye; 2. that weekly visits with relatives, restored by the Court, are observed without interruption or administrative delays; and 3. Regardless of the results of the medical examination, the treatment recommended to them will be provided without delay.

This follows an earlier letter in February signed by 14 former national team captains. Since then, former Pakistan greats Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram and Moin Khan have also spoken out on the matter, while current Australia captain Pat Cummins has also expressed his concerns.