Archive · 15 Sep 2026
Australian Captains Appeal for Imran Khan’s Detention Welfare
Seven famous former Australian cricket captains wrote to Australia’s foreign minister about Imran Khan.
Khan used to captain Pakistan’s cricket team and later became its prime minister.
He has been imprisoned since 2022 after corruption convictions, which he denies.
The Australian captains said they were not judging his political or legal cases.
They said every person in prison should receive humane treatment and proper healthcare.
They were especially concerned about reports that Khan has lost vision in his right eye.
Other former cricket captains asked for independent doctors to examine him and for his family to visit regularly.
Khan’s sons and other supporters have also spoken about his health and prison conditions.
Thousands of people reportedly rallied in Lahore to call for his release.
Seven former Australian captains asked Foreign Minister Penny Wong to raise concerns about Imran Khan’s welfare with Pakistani authorities.
The signatories said they were not taking a position on Khan’s legal or political cases, which they described as Pakistan’s responsibility.
Their appeal cited reported right-eye vision loss, deteriorating health, and concerns about medical care, family visits and access to lawyers.
A separate appeal by former international captains sought an independent, court-ordered medical assessment, uninterrupted family visits and prompt treatment.
Support for Khan also came from former international cricketers and a Lahore rally, where demonstrators reportedly demanded his immediate release.
- Who
- Seven former Australian captains, Imran Khan, other former international captains, Khan’s family and his supporters are involved; Penny Wong and Shehbaz Sharif received appeals.
- What
- The former captains sought humanitarian attention, medical care, family access and compliance with a court-ordered medical process for Khan, while supporters demanded his release.
- When
- The Australian appeal was reported on September 15; a separate international-captains letter was dated August 23, while other reports described an earlier February appeal and a recent Lahore rally.
- Where
- The appeal was sent to Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong; Khan is held at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, and supporters rallied in Lahore.
- Why
- The appeals cited concerns about Khan’s health and detention conditions, including reported right-eye vision loss and alleged shortcomings in healthcare, family access and legal access.
Humanitarian intervention
Pakistan’s legal and political jurisdiction
Treatment in detention
Humanitarian intervention
The Australian and international former captains, Khan’s family and supporters say he should receive humane treatment, independent medical checks, adequate healthcare, family visits and legal access.
Pakistan’s legal and political jurisdiction
The articles provide no detailed Pakistani official response to the specific allegations about Khan’s treatment or the requested measures.
Khan’s legal and political cases
Humanitarian intervention
Supporters and some former Pakistan cricketers have called for Khan’s release or for the dispute to be resolved through dialogue.
Pakistan’s legal and political jurisdiction
The seven Australian signatories explicitly said they were taking no position on Khan’s legal or political cases and regarded those matters as Pakistan’s responsibility.
International involvement
Humanitarian intervention
The former Australian captains asked Penny Wong to raise Khan’s welfare directly with Pakistani authorities because they said his health and detention conditions remained serious concerns.
Pakistan’s legal and political jurisdiction
Their appeal itself recognized that it was not a diplomatic judgment on Pakistan’s legal or political proceedings, but a humanitarian request.
- Australian signatories
- Allan Border, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, Kim Hughes, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh
- Australian recipient
- Penny Wong, Australia’s foreign minister
- Person at center
- Imran Khan, former Pakistan cricket captain and former prime minister
- Detention
- Khan has been in prison since 2022 and is reported to be held at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi
- International appeal
- Reports variously described the separate former-captains appeal as having 21 or 22 signatories
- Requested measures
- An independent medical assessment involving Khan’s doctors, uninterrupted weekly family visits and prompt treatment based on the findings
- Reported health concern
- Significant vision loss in Khan’s right eye, alongside broader concerns about deteriorating health
Sources
'Treatment is basic humanity': Australia captains on Imran
Imran Khan finds renewed support from seven cricket greats as thousands rally in Lahore - Telegraph India
7 former Australian captains back humanitarian plea for Imran Khan
Border, Waugh among seven 7 ex-Aussie skippers make humanitarian appeal for Imran Khan
Imran Khan ‘helped improve lives of Pakistanis’: Australian cricket greats now fear former Pakistan PM will die in jail
Allan Border, Steve Waugh among ex-Australia captains to make humanitarian plea for Imran Khan
