Sarfaraz Ahmed Reacts to PCB Threat Over Imran Khan Sons’ Sky Sports Interview

Pakistan coach Sarfaraz Ahmed has revealed that he and his players were unaware of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s reported threat to withdraw from the Lord’s Test against England following a Sky Sports interview with Imran Khan’s sons.

The controversy emerged during the lunch interval on the opening day of the second Test between England and Pakistan. Sky Sports broadcast an interview featuring Suleiman and Kasim Khan, the sons of former Pakistan captain and prime minister Imran Khan.

Reports claimed that the PCB had warned the England and Wales Cricket Board that it could consider pulling Pakistan out of the Test and potentially abandoning the remainder of the team’s three-match England tour if the interview was broadcast.

Sarfaraz Ahmed says Pakistan players were unaware of controversy

Despite the reported tension between the cricket boards, Pakistan’s players returned to the field after lunch and the Test continued as scheduled.

Speaking to reporters after the second day’s play, Sarfaraz said that the controversy had not been discussed with the players and that his attention remained firmly on the match.

“I don’t know anything. I’m just focusing on the match. You’re talking about the interview? We don’t know about the interview,” Sarfaraz said.

When asked whether there had been any possibility of Pakistan refusing to return to the field following the lunch interval, the head coach gave a brief response.

“All are OK. We were having lunch at that time,” he said.

Michael Atherton conducted Imran Khan sons’ interview

The Sky Sports interview was conducted by former England captain and broadcaster Michael Atherton. During the discussion, Suleiman and Kasim Khan spoke about concerns surrounding their father’s treatment and security while he remains in custody.

They also questioned the response of the United Kingdom government to Imran Khan’s situation, bringing the politically sensitive issue into the spotlight during an international cricket broadcast.

The decision to air the interview subsequently triggered a formal response from the PCB, adding an unusual off-field controversy to an important Test series.

Why the Imran Khan issue is sensitive in Pakistan

Imran Khan remains one of the most prominent figures in Pakistan’s cricket and political history. Before entering politics, he enjoyed a highly successful international cricket career and captained Pakistan to their first men’s World Cup title in 1992.

Khan later became Pakistan’s prime minister, serving from 2018 until 2022. He has remained in prison since 2023 following convictions in corruption-related cases, which he has denied.

His continued imprisonment and reported concerns about his health and access to family members have attracted attention from former international cricket captains and other public figures.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s dual role adds sensitivity

The controversy has also attracted additional attention because PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi simultaneously serves as Pakistan’s interior minister.

That overlap between cricket administration and government responsibilities has made the dispute surrounding the Sky Sports interview particularly sensitive.

PTV did not broadcast the interview in Pakistan

The incident also exposed a difference in how the broadcast was presented to viewers in Pakistan and international audiences.

Pakistan’s state broadcaster PTV is showing the Lord’s Test using Sky Sports’ international feed. However, the portion featuring Imran Khan’s sons was not shown to viewers watching the match through PTV.

This meant that international viewers saw the interview while the Pakistani television audience did not receive the same segment during the lunch interval.

Pakistan returned to the field as Test continued

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the reported PCB threat, Pakistan’s players returned to the field after lunch and the match continued without interruption.

By the end of Day 2, England had established a 261-run lead and reached 81/3 in their second innings. The cricket continued despite the political and broadcasting controversy surrounding the match.

Sarfaraz’s comments suggest that the Pakistan dressing room remained focused on the sporting contest rather than the developments taking place away from the field.