Seven former Australian captains write to Penny Wong over Imran Khan’s detention
Seven former Australian cricket skippers have written to Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong to raise humanitarian concerns about the detention of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, the group said in a letter reported by Cricinfo on September 15, 2026 in Sydney.
The signatories are Allan Border, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, Kim Hughes, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh. In their letter they stated they were writing "not as diplomats or political figures, but as former captains who felt compelled to speak up" and said "the group makes clear it takes no position on the legal or political case against Mr. Khan", describing that as a matter for Pakistan alone; they added their concern was with the treatment of anyone in detention, calling it “a matter of basic humanity, whatever their politics”.
The appeal is the latest from former international cricketers in support of Imran Khan, who is a former Pakistan cricket captain and served as Pakistan’s prime minister. On August 23, twenty-two former international cricket captains wrote to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif seeking improved medical treatment for Mr. Khan and asserting that the care provided to him fell short of a directive issued by the Supreme Court.
That August 23 letter made three specific requests: 1. that the medical board directed by the Supreme Court - including Imran's own doctors - be permitted to complete a full and independent assessment of his health, particularly the reported loss of vision in his right eye; 2. that the weekly family visits reinstated by the Court be honoured without interruption or administrative delay; and 3. that whatever the outcome of that medical assessment, the treatment recommended by it be provided without delay.
This intervention followed an earlier letter in February signed by 14 former international 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 likewise voiced his concerns.
The Hindu published the report on September 15, 2026, and the article carried an update timestamp of September 15, 2026 02:48 pm IST in Sydney.
