By Urdu Report Editorial Team
Sky Sports has confirmed that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) complained about its decision to broadcast an interview with former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sons during the lunch break on the opening day of the Lord’s Test between Pakistan and England.
Sky Sports Director of Communications Nikki Fletcher said the broadcaster was aware of the PCB’s complaint. She declined to comment on the interview itself and said questions about the PCB’s actions should be directed to the board.
The 18-minute interview with Qasim and Sulaiman Khan was conducted by former England captain Michael Atherton. It was recorded on Wednesday, a day before the Test, at the Lord’s Writers’ Room and broadcast during Thursday’s lunch interval.
Imran'sons's interview with sky News and complaint by PCB. pic.twitter.com/yurm14QH92
— Urdu Report (@UrduReportpk) August 29, 2026
What Imran Khan’s sons said
During the interview, Atherton asked Qasim and Sulaiman about their father’s health and treatment in prison.
The brothers claimed that Imran Khan was being held alone in a small cell. They also said their last in-person meeting with their father was in November 2022, while their most recent telephone conversation took place in March.
They further claimed that, despite a Supreme Court order, their father was taken to a government hospital rather than the private hospital they had expected and was subsequently returned to prison.
Sky Sports also broadcast the Pakistani government’s position after the interview. According to the government’s response, the former prime minister was being provided with appropriate medical facilities and had adequate facilities in prison.
The PCB’s position has not been included in the source material beyond Sky Sports’ confirmation that the board submitted a complaint. Attempts were made to contact PCB spokesperson Aamir Mir, but no response had been received at the time of publication.
Atherton calls interview a humanitarian appeal
After the interview aired, Michael Atherton described it as a humanitarian appeal.
He said people who had played cricket with Imran Khan were concerned about his health and wellbeing. Atherton also said the former Pakistan captain was among the greatest players and that there were concerns about his health.
Qasim and Sulaiman also called on the Pakistani government to allow their father to be examined by an independent doctor or his own doctor. They asked for the results of the examination to be made public.
Sulaiman said that if the government’s claims about his father’s health were correct, it should provide evidence.
The source also notes that Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered on August 18 that Imran Khan be transferred to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for treatment. The government said security concerns around the hospital prevented the transfer and that he was instead taken to PIMS for a medical examination.
The government said Imran Khan was found healthy after the examination.
Pat Cummins voices concern
Australia captain Pat Cummins has also expressed support for calls concerning Imran Khan’s medical examination and family meetings.
In a post on X on Friday, Cummins said he was adding his voice in support of Greg Chappell and other former international captains.
He expressed hope that the medical examination ordered by the court would be completed and that family visits would continue.
He also said he hoped Imran Khan would be treated with the dignity and respect he deserved.
Cummins joins a group of former international captains who had earlier written to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif calling for Imran Khan to receive treatment from independent medical experts.
The group included former India captains Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Dilip Vengsarkar, as well as several former England, Australia, Sri Lanka and New Zealand captains.
Debate over Sky Sports interview
The broadcast has triggered mixed reactions on social media.
Some users have praised Sky Sports and Atherton for airing the interview, while others have criticised the decision to discuss a political issue during an international cricket match.
