Pakistan head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed has denied having any knowledge of the reported threat from the Pakistan Cricket Board to halt the England tour over a Sky Sports interview featuring the sons of former captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan. Sarfaraz insisted that his attention remained firmly on the ongoing second Test at Lord’s.
The controversy erupted during the lunch break on the opening day after Sky Sports broadcast an interview with Kasim and Sulaiman Khanwho spoke about their father’s health and treatment in prison. Speaking after the second day’s play, Sarfaraz said neither he nor his players were aware of the reported dispute between the PCB and the England and Wales Cricket Board.
“I don’t know anything. I’m just focusing on the match,” Sarfaraz said.
“You’re talking about the interview? We don’t know about the interview,” he added.
Asked whether there had been any possibility of Pakistan refusing to return for the afternoon session on Day 1, Sarfaraz replied, “All are OK. We were having lunch at that time.”
The PCB is understood to have raised the possibility of cancelling the Lord’s Test and abandoning the remainder of the three-match series if the interview was aired. Sky Sports initially delayed the segment after receiving a complaint but eventually broadcast the pre-recorded interview.
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The interview was conducted by former England captain Michael Atherton and featured Imran Khan’s sons discussing their concerns about their father’s health, security and treatment. They also criticised the response of the UK government to his situation.
Imran Khan, 73, has been imprisoned since 2023 on corruption charges that he denies. Before entering politics, he enjoyed a distinguished 21-year international career and captained Pakistan to their only men’s ODI World Cup triumph in 1992. He later served as Pakistan’s Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022.
The political dimension of the dispute was heightened by the fact that PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister.
The England and Wales Cricket Board sought government advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office as the disagreement developed. In Pakistan, the interview was not shown by public broadcaster PTV, which used Sky’s match pictures for its coverage.
Despite the reported threat, Pakistan returned after lunch on Day 1 and the Test continued without interruption. No further complaint from Sky’s perspective was understood to have been raised on Friday.
The episode inevitably recalled Pakistan’s controversial Test at The Oval in 2006, when the visitors refused to take the field after tea following an umpiring decision related to alleged ball tampering.
That match remains the only Test in history to have been forfeited, with Pakistan adjudged to have conceded the game.
At Lord’s, however, there was no repeat of that outcome. England reached the close of Day 2 with a 261-run lead at 81/3 in their second innings, leaving the Test moving forward despite the off-field dispute.
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The concerns over Imran Khan’s health and treatment have increasingly drawn support from prominent figures across the cricketing world. A group of 21 former international captains, including Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Greg Chappell, Allan Border, Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook and Clive Lloyd, recently renewed their appeal to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, calling for humane treatment, proper medical care and uninterrupted family visits.
The appeal came after Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered a medical assessment for Khan and directed that he be moved to hospital. The former Pakistan captain has remained in custody since August 2023, with concerns particularly focused on his eyesight and broader health.
Chappell subsequently spoke about the difficulties of Khan’s prolonged isolation, while Australia captain Pat Cummins became the latest high-profile cricketer to back the call for Imran Khan to receive appropriate care.
“Adding my support here to GC and the other former international captains. I hope the court ordered medical assessment be allowed to run its course, and that family visits continue. I hope Imran Khan is treated with the dignity anyone deserves,” Cummins said.
The growing intervention from figures who shared the cricket field with Khan has given the issue a wider sporting dimension. What began as concerns raised by his family and former teammates has now developed into a collective appeal from former captains and current international figures for his medical care and access to family.
England are due to return to Pakistan in October for a one-day tri-series involving Sri Lanka. The visit will be their fourth separate tour of Pakistan in four years after a 17-year gap between visits caused by security concerns.
– Ends
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