PCB threatens action over Imran Khan interview during Test
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) issued a warning that its players would not return to the field during the second Test at Lord’s on Thursday after Sky Sports aired an interview with Imran Khan’s sons during the lunch interval, reports BritPanorama.
Kasim and Sulaiman Khan, the sons of the former prime minister from his marriage to Jemima Goldsmith, accused the Pakistani authorities of “trying to kill” their imprisoned father in the pre-recorded interview conducted by former England captain Mike Atherton.
Prior to the broadcast, the PCB had reached out to Sky, cautioning that Pakistan’s cricketers would not resume play if the segment aired. Although Sky initially postponed the interview, it ultimately decided to broadcast the 18-minute segment. Consequently, Pakistan’s players were already warming up on the field as the interview concluded, and the afternoon session continued without interruption.
Khan, 73, has been imprisoned for three years following his ousting from power. His sons detailed his severe decline in health while incarcerated, claiming that he has lost 80 percent of vision in one eye and is held in solitary confinement for over 23 hours a day in poor conditions.
“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,” Kasim told Atherton during the interview. Sulaiman noted that their father’s blood pressure has been rising “due to the stress of isolation and solitary confinement” and described a stark contrast between the man he remembered and the person he now sees in distress.
The brothers last communicated with their father in March 2025, and their attempts to visit him since November 2022 have been hindered by visa issues. They criticized the British government’s response to their father’s situation, labelling it “feeble” and accusing former officials of offering no meaningful support.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani government has denied any mishandling of Khan’s treatment, asserting that he, as a “convicted prisoner,” has received numerous visits and that he has access to various amenities. Government representatives maintain that he was deemed medically fit prior to returning to prison after a brief hospital visit, a claim contested by his family.
As the ongoing cricket Test unfolds, the sentiments surrounding Imran Khan’s situation remain contentious and complex. The interaction between sport and politics in this context serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by figures in the public eye, particularly those navigating the turbulent waters of political imprisonment.
