PCB threatens to interview Imran's sons, Pakistan coaches and players knew nothing

Pakistan head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and his players were unaware of the tension between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) over the airing of an interview with Imran Khan's sons Sulaiman and Qasim on Sky Sports, the Pakistan coach said after the second day of play in the Lord's Test.

During the lunch break of the first day of the second Test at Lord's, Sky Sports aired an interview with Sulaiman and Qasim, the sons of former Pakistan captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan. In the interview, conducted by former England captain and current Sky Sports commentator Michael Atherton, they expressed concerns about their father's medical treatment and safety.

Imran has been in prison since 2023. Concerns about his physical condition have increased in recent times. The two sons have also been demanding that their father be provided with proper medical treatment.

The PCB contacted Sky Sports about the matter before airing the interview. It is also said that Pakistan had even considered not playing the Lord's Test and the rest of the series if the interview was broadcast. However, the interview was later broadcast and the Pakistan players returned to the field on time after the lunch break.

However, the Pakistan team's coach and players were not aware of the entire incident. When Sarfaraz was asked about it at the press conference after the second day's play, he said, "I don't know anything. I'm just focusing on the match. Are you talking about that interview? We don't know anything about the interview."

When asked if there was any uncertainty about whether the Pakistan players would return to the field after lunch on the first day, the former wicketkeeper said, "Everything is fine. We were having lunch then."

The ECB is also said to have sought official advice from the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in the situation created by the interview. Pakistan's state broadcaster, PTV, used Sky Sports footage of the match but did not air the interview with Imran's sons.

The interviews with Imran's two sons raised concerns about their father's medical treatment and safety, as well as criticising the British government's role in the matter.

The incident also brought to mind the 2006 Oval Test, when Pakistan refused to take the field after tea in that match against England over allegations of ball tampering. Pakistan was later declared the loser in the match. This was the only time in Test history that a team has lost by refusing to take the field.