Interviews are never always innocent. Things can come out that aren't supposed to. Topics can be brought up that are unexpected to the interviewees. On the other hand, they might say something that angers others.
this was the case recently with an interview regarding Imran Khan.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) 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."
Atherton conducted the interview with Imran's sons on Wednesday morning in the Writers' Room at Lord's, with Sky running a teaser in the build-up to this Test. In Pakistan, PTV, which is broadcasting the series, did not broadcast the interview.
The PCB wanted to raise a complaint with the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office as well.
Imran's health has been the focus of growing scrutiny over the past few weeks, with his sons stepping up their efforts to get him appropriate health care. Last week, Pakistan's Supreme Court ordered him to be admitted to Shifa Hospital in the capital Islamabad.
Instead, he was taken to the state-run PIMS and returned to prison shortly after a check-up. Imran's sisters and sons have alleged this was a violation of the court order, and have demanded he be allowed to see his personal doctor.
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 (ECB), 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."
Asked why he and his brother had become more vocal about their father’s imprisonment, Sulaiman explained that the family initially believed Imran’s time in prison would be relatively short. That changed as the years passed.
Sulaiman spoke about the assassination attempts against his father, including the 2022 attack in which Imran was shot in the leg; before describing the growing sense of helplessness within the family. Then came the most serious allegation of the entire interview.
"It’s very, very clear what they’re doing, which is they’re just blatantly trying to kill him in there," Sulaiman said. "They just want to keep him in there as long as possible and hopefully just silence him."
It was an extraordinary accusation to make on an international broadcaster, and one that put the spotlight directly on the Pakistani authorities. There was more.
The brothers spoke about what they described as worsening conditions inside Adiala Jail, saying their father was being isolated for more than 23 hours a day. They also raised concerns over his eyesight, with Sulaiman claiming that Imran had lost around 80% of the vision in one eye.
They said Imran had complained about the problem for months but hadn't received what they considered adequate treatment.
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.
Also Read: For The Love Of Humanity
Khan’s lawyers have said he has lost 85% of vision in his right eye as a result of his living conditions.
Ultimately, Pakistan did take the field as scheduled after tea. The Pakistan government rejected allegations that Khan had been mistreated in prison or denied contact with his family and lawyers in a statement to Associated Press last week; saying that he had received more than 900 visits from his family, lawyers and doctors since his imprisonment in August 2023.
Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed said he and his players didn't know about a PCB threat to the ECB over a Sky interview with the sons of Imran Khan.
During lunch on day one of the second Test, Sky Sports aired an interview with Suleiman and Kasim Khan, the sons of former Pakistan captain and prime minister Imran, who has been in prison for the past three years.
It is understood the PCB raised the prospect of cancelling the Test at Lord's and the remainder of the three-match tour if the interview aired. A version of the interview was broadcast and the players returned to the field after the interval to continue the match.
"I don't know anything. I'm just focusing on the match," said Sarfaraz at the end of the second day's play. You're talking about the interview? We don't know about the interview."
Asked if there was ever a possibility his players would return for the afternoon session on day one, the former Pakistan wicketkeeper said: "All are OK. We were having lunch at that time."
Legendary all-rounder Imran Khan had a 21-year international career for Pakistan and famously led his team to World Cup glory in 1992.
He served as Pakistan's prime minister from 2018 to 2022. Since 2023, Khan has been in jail on corruption charges which he denies.
In the interview conducted by former England captain Michael Atherton, Suleiman and Kasim expressed concerns over the treatment and security given to their father, as well as criticising the UK government's response.
Before it aired, Sky received a complaint about the plan to broadcast the interview.
In response to the tension around the situation, the ECB took government advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
In Pakistan, the match is being aired by the public broadcaster PTV, using Sky's pictures. PTV did not air the interview.
Ultimately, the tourists resumed play after lunch and the Test has continued to the end of the second day, with England 261 runs ahead at 81-3 in their second innings.
It is understood Sky received no further complaints on Friday in relation to the interview.
In October, England will tour Pakistan for a one-day tri-series against the home side and Sri Lanka.
It will be England's fourth separate tour of Pakistan in the past four years following a 17-year gap between visits to the country because of security concerns.
In 2006, a Test between England and Pakistan at The Oval was abandoned after the visitors were accused of ball tampering.
Pakistan were adjudged to have forfeited the match after refusing to play after tea on the fourth day, the only instance in Test history when a team has forfeited a Test.
Also Read: Forfeiting In Sports
I don't see a reason for the complaint. The sons were simply airing their thought and opinions. A Board can't be upset over it. They have their views and others have their own.
Everyone, regardless of what they did, should be treated with respect and dignity. In this case, the people in charge need to remember what Imran Khan did for the country in the sports arena.