Imran Khan, along with his wife have been in jail since August 2023.
A number of Australian greats have now united to pursue a diplomatic solution after a previous letter from 22 international captains pleaded for Imran to be treated humanely.
As worries over Imran's welfare increase, these former Australian captains wrote to Penny Wong, the nation's foreign minister, on Tuesday asking for diplomatic intervention.
Allan Border, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, Kim Hughes, Mark Taylor, and Steve Waugh are the signatories to the letter addressed to the Australian government.
In a statement, the seven captains said they have "no position on the legal or political case against Mr. Khan," calling it an issue for Pakistan to handle on its own. However, they expressed significant worry about Imran's treatment in Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail, describing it as "a matter of basic humanity, whatever their politics."
Greg Chappell, one of Australia's most respected cricketers, has requested a meeting with Senator Wong to address Imran's issue, especially after the former Pakistan captain's kids claimed a significant danger to his life in a recent interview.
The letter penned by the seven captains reads, "Greg Chappell last saw Imran Khan in Islamabad in 2022, when Khan was prime minister—hale, hearty, and fit, by his account. It is hard to reconcile that image with the reports now coming out of his detention, and that is why we write to you today, not as diplomats or political actors, but as former Australian captains who felt we should speak up."
"Mr. Khan led Pakistan to its only World Cup title. He also led his country as prime minister. 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," it added.
Greg Chappell, in an interaction with Hindustan Times, emphasized that the political case against Imran does not affect him or the other signatories, but he insisted on decent incarceration conditions.
"Beyond credible reports, his own sons and sisters have been pleading publicly for months over his health and treatment in detention—citing limited medical care, restricted family contact, and minimal access to legal counsel among their concerns. 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," the letter stated.
When asked about the necessity of writing the letter, Chappell said, "We are concerned that he will die in jail."
"This is not the first time international captains have raised this concern. It has been brought to public attention on two separate occasions in the past six months, and the reports since then—now echoed by his own family—suggest the situation has not improved. We would be grateful if the Australian government could raise this directly with the relevant Pakistani authorities. Mr. Chappell has also requested a meeting with you on this matter over recent weeks and would welcome the chance to discuss it with you directly on our behalf. Thank you for taking the time to consider this," the letter concluded.
(ANI inputs)