Pakistan threaten to boycott Lord’s Test midway through day one in complaint to broadcaster

Pakistan threatened not to return to the field after lunch during the second Test against England following an interview with Imran Khan’s sons.

In a segment aired by Sky Sports, Kasim and Sulaiman Khan raised concerns about the Pakistan government’s treatment of their father – the former cricket captain and prime minister.

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Khan has been held in solitary confinement for the past three years, having been ousted from power in 2022.

During this time, there have been widespread calls for the cricket legend to receive better treatment amid concerns about his health.

Controversy

The interview with Khan’s sons was broadcast during the rain-delayed lunch break on day one of the second Test between England and Pakistan at Lord’s.

In an 18-minute conversation conducted by former England captain Michael Atherton, the pair accused Pakistani authorities of ‘trying to kill’ their imprisoned father.

The decision to air the segment left Pakistan’s Cricket Board (PCB) unhappy – who complained to Sky – according to the Telegraph.

Ahead of the break in play, the PCB contacted the broadcaster, warning that Pakistan’s cricketers would not resume play if the piece was televised.

The chairman of the PCB, Mohsin Naqvi, is also Pakistan’s Minister of the Interior, and it is thought he was unhappy with government critics being given a public platform.

According to ESPN CricInfo, Sky initially held back the segment, before ultimately opting to broadcast it.

While the interview was still airing, Pakistan’s players were already warming up on the outfield in preparation for the afternoon session.

Despite suggestions that a boycott was under consideration, Pakistan resumed on schedule after the lunch break.

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This avoided a repeat scenario of the infamous 2006 Test at the Oval when Pakistan were accused of ball-tampering.

Umpires Daryl Hair and Billy Doctrove ended up awarding five penalty runs to England and changing the ball.

In response, the visitors refused to take the field after tea, leading to the umpires awarding the game to England via forfeit.

Bleak details revealed

Khan has been in jail in Pakistan for the last three years for a string of allegations that followed his removal from office in August 2022.

He became prime minister when his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) took power in 2018, years on from his storied cricket career which saw him play 88 Test matches and win the 1992 World Cup.

There have been calls from around the world – including from a group of former international cricket captains – for the 73-year-old to be treated better while imprisoned amid concerns over his health.

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In the Sky Sports interview, Khan’s sons said they feared for his life, and said that he has now lost 80 per cent of his vision in one eye.

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.”

Meanwhile Sulaiman said his father has rising blood pressure due to the stress of ‘isolation and solitary confinement’.

The pair last spoke to their father in March and have not visited him since November 2022.

Khan 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.