Imran Khan 'helped improve the lives of Pakistanis': Australian cricket greats now fear former Pakistan PM will die in jail

Concerns over Imran Khan’s health and treatment in custody have brought the cricketing legends together again. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong received a humanitarian appeal from former Australian captains.

Former Australian cricket captains want their government to discuss Imran Khan’s treatment in Pakistan. Their latest challenge follows earlier efforts that appear to have yielded little improvement.

Khan, a former prime minister of Pakistan, is reportedly facing loss of vision in his right eye. The former captains want an independent medical opinion, followed by treatment without delay.

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Now seven former Australian captains have taken this humanitarian cause to Wong. Signatories include Allan Border, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell and Belinda Clark. Kim Hughes, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh also signed the letter.

An earlier letter in February bore the signatures of 14 former international captains. Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, Moin Khan and Pat Cummins also spoke about their former captain’s conditions.

Greg Chappell explained their biggest fear when contacted by Hindustan Times Digital. He said they feared Khan might “die in prison”.

The captains’ letter raises concerns about health care, family reunification and access to lawyers. Khan’s sons and sisters have spoken publicly about the issues for months. Detention reports, along with family appeals, indicate that his condition remains a serious concern.

“He is held in high esteem by Australians – as a cricketer whose skill and leadership left a lasting mark on the game we share, and as someone who helped improve the lives of Pakistanis by building cancer hospitals,” the letter said.

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Chappell remembers a very different Khan during their last meeting in Islamabad in 2022. Khan was then Pakistan’s prime minister and looked “healthy, hearty and fit”. The captains said today’s news was hard to square with that memory.

They emphasized that their appeal comes from former players who are interested in the welfare of another person. They have not taken any position on the legal or political cases against Khan. These matters were for Pakistan to decide.

But he argues that everyone in custody deserves humane treatment, regardless of political affiliation.

“But the treatment of any person in custody is a matter of basic humanity, regardless of their politics,” HT quoted the letter as saying.

Continued concern over Imran Khan’s health

This is not the first time that the international cricket community has raised concerns about Imran Khan’s health. Several international cricketers have already expressed these concerns twice in the previous six months. Chappell requested a meeting with Australia’s foreign minister to explain his concerns.

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On August 23, 22 former international captains wrote to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. They said Khan’s medical care fell short of the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court.

Their appeal required a full examination by a court-directed medical panel, including Khan’s own doctors. They also requested uninterrupted weekly family visits, as restored by the court. Any recommended treatment should begin immediately, they added.