LONDON : The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) threatened to boycott the second Test against England at Lord’s after broadcaster Sky Sports aired an interview with the sons of imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan, according to multiple reports.
The controversy erupted on the first day when Sky Sports broadcast a pre-recorded 18-minute interview conducted by former England captain Mike Atherton with Imran Khan’s sons, Kasim and Sulaiman. The segment, filmed at Lord’s Long Room a day before the Test, featured the sons expressing serious concerns over their father’s deteriorating health and eyesight in prison.
According to Cricinfo, the PCB contacted Sky Sports ahead of the lunch break to protest the segment, threatening that Pakistan players would not return to the field after lunch if it was aired. Sky initially delayed the interview before ultimately broadcasting it during the lunch interval. The PCB subsequently filed a formal complaint but backed down from its boycott threat, and Pakistan took the field for the afternoon session as scheduled.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was made aware of the complaint. The interview was not aired by Pakistan’s state broadcaster PTV, which provided live coverage of the series in Pakistan.
The incident was particularly sensitive as Atherton is one of 21 former international captains who recently signed a letter to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appealing for humane treatment and proper medical care for Imran Khan. Imran Khan, 73, has been in prison since August 2023 and has spent over three years behind bars. His lawyers have said he has lost 85% of vision in his right eye.
