The Pakistan Cricket Board made a formal complaint to Sky Sports after it broadcast an interview with Imran Khan’s sons, Kasim and Sulaiman, during its coverage of the first day’s play at Lord’s. The tourists were so incensed that Babar Azam’s side threatened to refuse to return to the field after lunch.
During the interview with Sky’s Michael Atherton, Khan’s children raised concerns about the Pakistan government’s treatment of the country’s former prime minister, including the claim that they are “trying to kill him”.
Khan has been in solitary confinement for three years. Lawyers have described his living conditions as slow-motion murder, his sister claimed he has been tortured and 21 former cricketers including Atherton have campaigned for him to be treated humanely.
The PCB was unhappy with Sky, which is a long-term rights partner of the England and Wales Cricket Board, giving the Khans airtime and is understood to have lobbied for the interview not to be broadcast. The chair of the PCB, Mohsin Naqvi, is also Pakistan’s minister of the interior and is extremely close to the government.
Sky refused to back down, however, and after the interview was broadcast during the rain-delayed lunch break PCB officials briefly threatened to stop their players from returning. The ECB succeeded in talking them round during tense discussions and the afternoon and evening sessions took place as planned before bad light stopped play just before 6pm.
Pakistan remain aggrieved, though, and are understood to have also raised the issue with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Discussions with the touring party were continuing on Thursday night, with the ECB having received assurances that Pakistan will take the field on day two.
During the interview Kasim Khan said: “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.”
The 73-year-old was moved to a hospital last week for treatment after a supreme court ruling permitted his temporary release, but has since been returned to prison.
In addition to his family, Khan’s plight has also been highlighted by many of the world’s great former cricketers, who have written two joint letters calling “for humane treatment and proper medical care”.
After publishing their first letter in February the group, which includes six former England captains, former India captain Kapil Dev and Australian players Adam Gilchrist and Greg Chappell, issued another this week calling for “a full and independent assessment of his health”, particularly on his right eye.
Khan’s lawyers have said he has lost 85% of vision in his right eye as a result of his living conditions.
Sky, the ECB and the PCB declined to comment.
