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The Pakistan Cricket Board made a formal complaint to Sky Sports after it broadcast an interview with Imran Khan\u2019s sons, Kasim and Sulaiman, during its coverage of the first day\u2019s play at Lord\u2019s. The tourists were so incensed that Babar Azam\u2019s side threatened to refuse to return to the field after lunch.<\/p>\n
During the interview with Sky\u2019s Michael Atherton, Khan\u2019s children raised concerns about the Pakistan government\u2019s treatment of the country\u2019s former prime minister, including the claim that they are \u201ctrying to kill him\u201d.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The PCB was unhappy with Sky, which is a long-term rights partner of the England and Wales Cricket<\/a> 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\u2019s minister of the interior and is extremely close to the government.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n During the interview Kasim Khan said: \u201cIt 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.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n In addition to his family, Khan\u2019s plight has also been highlighted by many of the world\u2019s great former cricketers, who have written two joint letters calling \u201cfor humane treatment and proper medical care\u201d.<\/p>\n
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