Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodged a formal complaint with broadcaster Sky Sports and considered pulling its team off the field during the second Test against England at Lord’s, according to Cricinfo. The row erupted on the first day after Sky Sports aired a pre-recorded interview conducted by former England captain Mike Atherton with Kasim and Sulaiman Khan, the sons of imprisoned former Pakistan captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan. | Lord’s Test Scorecard |
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In the segment, filmed at the venue on Wednesday, Imran Khan’s sons expressed serious concerns over their father’s health and deteriorating eyesight.
The PCB objected to the inclusion of political themes in live match coverage and reportedly warned that it could keep its players in the dressing room for the afternoon session if the feature was broadcast.
Sky delayed the segment before airing it during the lunch interval. The PCB subsequently filed an official complaint, but ultimately backed down from its threat and Pakistan returned to the field for the afternoon session. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was made aware of the complaint, according to the British media. The interview was not aired by the Pakistani broadcaster of the Test series, reports said.
Imran Khan, 73, has been in prison since August 2023 after being arrested in connection with corruption cases. He has since been convicted in one of the cases and sentenced to 14 years in prison. Imran Khan has denied wrongdoing and maintained that the cases against him are politically motivated. He is being held at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi and has spent more than three years behind bars.
The concerns over Imran Khan’s treatment have also drawn support from former international captains. 21 former captains, including India greats Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev and former England captain Mike Atherton, have renewed an appeal to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for Khan to receive humane treatment and proper medical care. They have called for a court-directed independent medical assessment, weekly family visits and any necessary treatment to be provided without delay.
The controversy overshadowed what had otherwise been a much-improved first day for Pakistan at Lord’s. Pakistan won the toss and opted to field, with Babar Azam returning to the XI after missing the series opener through injury. Mohammad Abbas took 4 for 56 and Mohammad Ali 3 for 67 as England were reduced to 248 for 9 in 56 overs before bad light ended play. Jordan Cox made 55 and Jamie Smith 61 to rescue England after they had slipped to 80 for four.
Pakistan needed a response at Lord’s after England had dominated the series opener at Headingley, winning by an innings and 103 runs.
ANOTHER DIPLOMATIC FAILURE
The latest episode also echoes Pakistan’s boycott threat during the 2025 Asia Cup. After India and Pakistan players did not exchange the customary handshake during their match in Dubai, the PCB demanded the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft, accusing him of failing to prevent the incident. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who was also president of the Asian Cricket Council, escalated the dispute and Pakistan threatened to boycott its next match against the UAE if Pycroft remained in charge.
Pakistan eventually took the field against the UAE, but only after delaying their arrival at the stadium and pushing back the start of the match by an hour. Pycroft remained the match referee after the ICC rejected the PCB’s demand for his removal. He later apologised to Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha and the team manager, but the ICC clarified that the apology related to a miscommunication and not the handshake incident. Naqvi subsequently acknowledged that a boycott had been considered, but Pakistan ultimately played the match.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
