Lahore: The global cricketing, including Indian legends such as Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, have repeatedly raised concerns about Pakistan’s only World Cup-winning captain and former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s health condition in prison.
Now, seven former Australian captains have written to Foreign Minister Penny Wong to take up the treatment of Imran with the Pakistani government, fearing he will die in detention.
Imran, who served as Pakistan’s PM from 2018 to 2022, has been in prison since 2023 on multiple charges, and was last year sentenced to 14 years in prison after a corruption conviction.
“Mr Khan led Pakistan to its only World Cup title. He also led his country as prime minister,” Greg Chappell and his fellow former captains — elder brother Ian Chappell, Allan Border, Belinda Clark, Kim Hughes, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh — wrote in a letter sent to Wong on Tuesday.
“Australians hold him in great regard – as a cricketer whose skill and leadership left a lasting mark on the game we share, and as someone who has helped improve the lives of Pakistanis by building cancer hospitals.”
Greg and the others said Imran’s health had deteriorated significantly since his long period in solitary confinement, and that he had lost most of his sight in one eye.
“My biggest fear is that he will die in jail,” Greg said.
“I am hoping Australia can raise this at a government-to-government level to try to improve his condition. This is a humanitarian issue, not a legal or political one.”
The letter further stated: “We take no position on the legal or political case against him. That is Pakistan’s business. But the treatment of any person in detention is a matter of basic humanity, whatever their politics.”
“We would be grateful if the Australian government could raise this directly with the relevant Pakistani authorities.”
The 73-year-old Imran, arguably Pakistan’s greatest cricketing legend, faces more than 100 legal cases since losing power in a vote of no-confidence three years ago, including charges of bribery, leaking state secrets and illegally selling state gifts.
Imran has denied all the accusations, with his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf claiming they were politically motivated.
Most of the convictions have been overturned or suspended.