PCB Complains Over Sky Sports Interview With Imran Khan's Sons
LONDON: The Pakistan Cricket Board has lodged a formal complaint with the England and Wales Cricket Board following the broadcast of a Sky Sports interview featuring former Pakistan captain Imran Khan's sons during the Pakistan-England Test at Lord's, according to a report carried by Dunya News.
The interview was shown during the lunch interval on the opening day of the Test. Former England captain and Sky Sports broadcaster Mike Atherton conducted the discussion with Sulaiman and Qasim Khan, who spoke about concerns regarding their father. The appearance attracted attention because it aired during coverage of an international match involving Pakistan's national cricket team.
According to the report, the PCB raised the matter directly with the ECB after the broadcast. The board was also reported to have considered keeping the Pakistan team off the field after the lunch break as a form of protest. The players ultimately returned to resume the match after a brief delay, allowing play to continue at Lord's.
The episode has added an unusual off-field dimension to the Pakistan-England series. International cricket broadcasts routinely include interviews and features during scheduled breaks, but the PCB's reported objection indicates concern over material it considered sensitive or unrelated to the sporting contest being played under the boards' bilateral arrangements.
No public statement from the PCB detailing the grounds of its complaint had been issued at the time of the report. Dunya News said the matter had nevertheless been formally communicated to the ECB. Without an official explanation from the Pakistani board, the precise wording of the complaint and any specific remedy sought from the English authorities remain unconfirmed.
The development is significant in Pakistan because Imran Khan is both a former national cricket captain and a major political figure, meaning coverage involving his family can quickly generate attention beyond sport. The broadcast has therefore become a talking point involving cricket administration, television coverage and a highly prominent Pakistani public figure, increasing interest around an already closely followed Test series.
The immediate focus will be on whether the PCB issues a formal statement and whether the ECB responds publicly to the complaint. Any further action would depend on communication between the two cricket boards and their assessment of the circumstances surrounding the broadcast. For now, the Test has continued, while the dispute over the interview remains an off-field issue alongside the sporting contest.