The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly lodged an objection with British broadcaster Sky Sports over an interview with the sons of jailed former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan during the Lord’s Test.
According to a report by ESPN Cricinfo, the PCB contacted Sky Sports before the lunch interval on the opening day of the Test and raised concerns about the planned broadcast.
The cricket board reportedly warned that Pakistan’s players would not return to the field after lunch if the interview was aired.
Despite the objection, Sky Sports eventually broadcast the interview after delaying it while discussions with the PCB continued.
The 18-minute interview was conducted by former England captain Mike Atherton and featured Imran Khan’s sons, Suleiman and Kasim Khan.
PCB Objects to Interview During Test Match
The controversy emerged during the first day of the Lord’s Test, where Pakistan were involved in international cricket action.
According to ESPN Cricinfo, the PCB approached Sky Sports before the scheduled lunch break and objected to the timing of the interview.
The board reportedly expressed strong reservations about the broadcast and threatened that Pakistan’s players would not return to the field for the second session if the interview went ahead.
Sky Sports delayed the broadcast while discussions with the PCB continued.
However, the broadcaster ultimately decided to air the interview.
The programme was completed before Pakistan’s players were due to return to the field for the second session, according to the report.
The incident has created an unusual situation involving Pakistan cricket, broadcasting rights and the political controversy surrounding Imran Khan.
Imran Khan’s Sons Raise Concerns Over His Health
During the interview, Suleiman and Kasim Khan discussed their father’s situation in prison and expressed serious concerns about his health.
The two brothers reportedly said they feared for their father’s life.
The interview comes amid renewed controversy over Imran Khan’s medical treatment and prison conditions.
His family and PTI have repeatedly raised concerns about his health and alleged that he has spent prolonged periods in solitary confinement at Adiala Jail.
The former prime minister has remained imprisoned since August 2023 after being convicted in several cases.
PTI has consistently maintained that the cases against its founder are politically motivated, while Pakistani authorities have rejected such allegations.
Supreme Court Orders Medical Treatment
The interview also comes shortly after the Supreme Court issued directions concerning Imran Khan’s medical care.
The court ordered authorities to shift him to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for examination and treatment by a multidisciplinary medical board.
The order followed concerns surrounding his health, particularly an eye condition affecting his right eye.
However, Imran was subsequently taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) instead of Shifa International Hospital.
Government officials said the former prime minister was examined by qualified doctors and was declared medically fit.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the medical assessment involved specialists, including doctors associated with Shifa International Hospital.
PTI, however, disputed the government’s account and continued to demand that the Supreme Court’s directions be implemented fully.
The party has also called for access to complete medical records and further examination by doctors of Imran Khan’s choice.
Former Cricket Captains Also Raise Concerns
The Sky Sports interview comes only days after a group of former international cricket captains appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif over Imran Khan’s medical treatment.
At least 21 former international captains and prominent cricketers signed a letter calling for the former Pakistan captain and prime minister to receive treatment in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directions.
The former cricketers said the Supreme Court had ordered Imran to be examined by a medical board that would include his personal doctors and his sister, Dr Uzma Khan.
They expressed concern that his hospital stay lasted only a few hours and that he was subsequently returned to Adiala Jail.
The cricket figures called for the court-directed medical board to complete an independent assessment of his health.
They also called for weekly family meetings to be allowed without interruption and for any necessary treatment to be provided without delay.
The appeal was notable because many of the signatories had played alongside or against Imran Khan during his international cricket career.
They stressed that their intervention was based on their shared connection through cricket rather than political considerations.
Jemima Goldsmith Calls for UK Intervention
The controversy has also attracted attention in the United Kingdom.
Imran Khan’s former wife, Jemima Goldsmith, recently urged the British government to take notice of his situation.
Jemima, who shares sons Suleiman and Kasim with Imran Khan, questioned how long Britain would remain silent over what she described as the treatment of her former husband.
She alleged that Imran had been severely punished by his political opponents and had endured years of solitary confinement.
Her comments came as pressure increased from Imran’s family and supporters over his health and prison conditions.
The British government has not been reported to have taken any action in response to the latest allegations.
Political Dispute Enters Cricket Broadcast
The reported confrontation between the PCB and Sky Sports highlights how the controversy surrounding Imran Khan continues to intersect with international cricket.
Imran remains one of Pakistan’s most celebrated cricket figures.
He captained Pakistan to its only men’s Cricket World Cup title in 1992 before entering politics and eventually becoming prime minister.
His sons have remained outside Pakistani politics but have frequently spoken publicly about their father’s imprisonment and health.
Their appearance on an international cricket broadcast therefore attracted considerable attention.
The timing was particularly significant because the interview was scheduled during a Pakistan Test match involving one of the world’s most prominent cricket broadcasters.
According to the report, the PCB’s decision to object was linked to the potential impact of the interview during live international coverage.
Sky Sports ultimately aired the interview after the delay.
The reported threat that Pakistan players would not return to the field if the interview was broadcast adds another unusual dimension to the dispute.
Wider Questions Over Imran’s Medical Care
The latest development comes amid continuing disagreement between the government and PTI over Imran Khan’s medical treatment.
PTI has repeatedly accused authorities of delaying or restricting appropriate medical care.
Government officials have maintained that he is receiving necessary treatment and that medical professionals have assessed his condition.
The disagreement intensified after the Supreme Court directed his transfer to Shifa International Hospital.
The subsequent decision to take him to PIMS became another point of contention between the two sides.
The controversy over the recommended cardiac examination at PIMS further increased concerns among PTI supporters.
The party has demanded that his medical tests be conducted at Shifa International Hospital under the supervision of independent specialists and his personal doctors.
Meanwhile, the government has said that the former prime minister was examined by qualified medical professionals.
With international cricket figures now speaking publicly and his sons appearing on a major British broadcaster, the issue has gained attention beyond Pakistan’s domestic political arena.
The reported PCB complaint against Sky Sports adds a new chapter to the continuing controversy, bringing together Pakistan cricket, international broadcasting and the ongoing debate over Imran Khan’s health and treatment in prison.
