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The Pakistan Cricket Board has made a formal complaint to Sky Sports after it broadcast an interview with Imran Khan’s sons, Kasim and Sulaiman, during its coverage of the first day’s play at Lord’s
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Sport — Matt Hughes and Ali Martin
The Pakistan Cricket Board made a formal complaint to Sky Sports after they broadcast an interview with Imran Khan’s sons, Kasim and Sulaiman, during their coverage of the first day’s play at Lord’s with the tourists so incensed that Babar Azam’s side threatened to refuse to return to the field after lunch.
During the interview with Sky’s Michael Atherton, Khan’s children raised concerns about the Pakistan government’s treatment of the country’s former prime minister, including the claim that they are “trying to kill him.”
Related: Jailed ex-Pakistan PM Imran Khan allowed brief hospital visit after uproar over health
Khan has been in solitary confinement for three years with lawyers describing his living conditions as slow-motion murder, his sister claiming he has been tortured, and 21 former cricketers including Atherton campaigning for him to be treated humanely.
The PCB were unhappy with Sky, who are a long-term rights partner of the England and Wales Cricket Board, giving the Khans airtime and are understood to have lobbied for the interview not to be broadcast. The chair of the PCB, Mohsin Naqvi, is also Pakistan’s minister of the interior and is extremely close to the government.
Sky refused to back down, however, and after the interview was broadcast during the rain-delayed lunch break PCB officials briefly threatened to stop their players from returning. The ECB succeeded in talking them round during tense discussions and the afternoon and evening sessions took place as planned before bad light stopped play just before 6pm.
Pakistan remain aggrieved, though, and are understood to have also raised the issue with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Discussions with the touring party were continuing on Thursday night, with the ECB having received assurances that Pakistan will take the field on day two.
During the interview Kasim Khan said: “It is not very clear what they are doing, just blatantly trying to kill him in there. Keep him in as long as possible and silence him.”
The 73-year-old was moved to a hospital last week for treatment after a supreme ccourt ruling permitted his temporary release, but has since been returned to prison.
Related: Mohammad Abbas pegs back England as improved Pakistan make their mark at Lord’s
In addition to his family, Khan’s plight has also been highlighted by many of the world’s great former cricketers, who have written two joint letters “for humane treatment and proper medical care.”
After publishing their first letter in February the group, which includes six former England captains, ex-India captain Kapil Dev and Australian players Adam Gilchrist and Greg Chappell, issued another this week calling for “a full and independent assessment of his health”, particularly on his right eye.
Khan’s lawyers have said he has lost 85% of vision in his right eye as a result of his living conditions.
No Pakistani cricketers signed the letter.
Sky, the ECB and the PCB declined to comment.
During the interview with Sky’s Michael Atherton, Khan’s children raised concerns about the Pakistan government’s treatment of the country’s former prime minister, including the claim that they are “trying to kill him.”
This report is published with credit to The Guardian. Full available text from the wire is above. Read on The Guardian →
Source: The Guardian · Matt Hughes and Ali Martin. Published 27 Aug 2026, 08:21 pm.
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