The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly lodged a formal complaint with Sky Sports after the broadcaster aired an interview with former prime minister and Pakistan cricket captain Imran Khan’s sons, Sulaiman and Qasim Khan, during the second Test between Pakistan and England at Lord’s.
The interview, conducted by former England captain Michael Atherton, was broadcast during the lunch interval and included discussion of Imran Khan’s imprisonment and concerns over his health.
According to the report, the broadcast angered Pakistani officials and players, with the team reportedly coming close to refusing to return to the field after lunch in protest.
The PCB subsequently raised the matter formally with Sky Sports, objecting to political content being aired during coverage of an international cricket match involving Pakistan.
The controversy comes weeks after 21 former Pakistan cricket captains reportedly wrote to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif calling for improved medical care for Imran Khan.
The former prime minister remains one of the most prominent figures in Pakistan cricket history. He captained the national team to its first and only ODI World Cup title in 1992 before entering politics and eventually serving as prime minister.
The latest dispute has again brought politics into Pakistan’s international cricket engagements. Recent tournaments have also been affected by political tensions, including controversies surrounding handshakes, threatened boycotts and disputes over trophy presentations.
The Lord’s incident now raises questions over how broadcasters, cricket authorities and teams handle political issues that emerge during international sporting events, particularly when the individuals involved have significant histories in both sport and politics.