PCB lodges formal complaint as Kasim and Sulaiman Khan raise fears for jailed father’s health and accuse authorities of isolation.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) threatened to keep its players off the field after lunch on the opening day of the second Test against England at Lord’s after Sky Sports broadcast an interview with the sons of imprisoned former captain and prime minister Imran Khan.
The 18-minute pre-recorded segment, conducted by former England captain and Sky Sports presenter Michael Atherton, featured Kasim and Sulaiman Khan, Imran’s sons from his marriage to Jemima Goldsmith. It was filmed on Wednesday in the Writers’ Room at Lord’s and aired during the lunch interval on Thursday.
PCB officials contacted Sky ahead of the break, objecting to the political content and warning that Pakistan’s players might not return for the afternoon session if the interview went ahead. Sky delayed the broadcast during discussions but ultimately aired the full clip. By the time it concluded, Pakistan’s players were warming up and play resumed at 2:40pm local time. The board later filed a formal complaint. The interview was not shown on Pakistan’s state broadcaster PTV.
Imran Khan’s Sons Raise Alarm Over His Health in Prison:
Kasim and Sulaiman Khan focused on their father’s deteriorating health and conditions in custody. Imran Khan, 73, has been imprisoned since August 2023.
- Kasim accused authorities of “blatantly trying to kill him,” saying the aim appeared to be prolonged isolation and silencing.
- The brothers said their father has lost about 80 percent of the vision in one eye and was recently seen wearing an eye patch. He appeared “visibly stressed,” a sharp contrast to the composed figure they remembered.
- They described him spending more than 23 hours a day in a small cell with limited reading material (mainly the Quran) and inadequate air conditioning in summer. Sulaiman linked rising blood pressure to the stress of isolation and solitary confinement.
- The sons said they last saw their father in November 2022 and last spoke to him in March 2026. They expressed concern over a recent medical assessment in which he was taken only briefly to a government facility rather than a private hospital before being returned to jail.
- Atherton framed the segment as a “humanitarian appeal” amid growing international concern for Khan’s wellbeing.
Imran Khan’s Sons’ Lord’s Visit Sparks Political Tensions:
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister, placing the cricket board’s objections in a sensitive political context. Khan’s imprisonment and medical treatment have remained highly contentious issues in Pakistan.
A group of former international captains, including Atherton, recently co-signed a letter calling for proper medical care for Khan while he remains in custody. Pakistan’s government has previously rejected allegations of mistreatment or medical neglect.
The incident overshadowed the start of the second Test, with England recovering to 248 for 9 by the close of day one. Pakistan trail the three-match series 1-0. The sons indicated they planned to attend Lord’s later in the match and support Pakistan.