PCB accuses Sky Sports of airing Imran Khan's sons' interview

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has lodged a formal complaint against British broadcaster Sky Sports for airing an interview with former Pakistan Prime Minister and captain Imran Khan's two sons, Suleiman and Qasim Khan, on the first day of the Lord's Test.

According to a report by cricket-based website ESPNcricinfo, the PCB even considered not fielding the Pakistan team after lunch on the first day of the Test against England in protest at the airing of the interview. In the end, Pakistan took to the field on time.

Former England captain and Sky Sports commentator Michael Atherton interviewed Imran's two sons in the Lord's Writers' Room on Wednesday. In the 18-minute interview, which was broadcast during the lunch break, Suleiman and Qasim expressed their concerns about their father's health. They said they feared for their father's life in prison.

Imran has been in prison for almost three years. Concerns about his health have increased in recent times. His two sons have long been demanding proper medical treatment for their father.

According to ESPNcricinfo, the PCB contacted Sky Sports before lunch to object to the interview. The broadcast was then postponed for a while, but the interview was eventually aired. When the interview ended, Pakistan's players were preparing to return to the field for the second session.

Sky Sports had aired a teaser of the interview even before the start of the Test. However, PTV, which broadcasts the series in Pakistan, did not air it.

Imran's treatment has been under discussion in Pakistan for several weeks. Last week, the country's Supreme Court ordered him to be admitted to Shifa Hospital in Islamabad. But instead of taking him there, he was taken to the state-run PIMS Hospital. After a short medical examination, he was sent back to prison.

Imran's sister and sons allege that he was not taken to Shifa Hospital in defiance of the court's order. They also demanded that he be allowed to meet his personal doctor.

Earlier, 21 former international captains had written to Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressing concern about Imran's health. The letter called for Imran to be given necessary medical treatment in prison. The signatories included Michael Atherton, as well as former captains of India, Australia, England, West Indies and New Zealand.

This was the second letter from former international captains regarding Imran's health. Earlier, 14 former captains had written to the Pakistani government on the same issue in February. No response was received to that letter.

However, the Pakistani government has denied allegations that Imran is being tortured in prison and is not allowed to communicate with his family and lawyers. In a statement given to the Associated Press last week, the government claimed that Imran's family, lawyers and doctors have met him more than 900 times since his imprisonment in August 2023.