The Pakistan Cricket Board have told their players on the England tour to keep quiet about Imran Khan. As per reports from PTI, the PCB has advised the squad not to comment publicly on the former captain’s imprisonment or his health while the Test series is going on. The instruction came after British media tried to get players talking about the issue and right after Sky Sports put out an interview with sons of Imran Khan during the lunch break of the second Test at Lord’s. PCB sources called the interview political and made it clear the board was not happy that it went out in the middle of a match involving the Pakistan team.

Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed was asked about the interview and the reports that the board had threatened to keep the players in the dressing room after lunch if Sky went ahead with it. He said the team was simply having lunch and had no idea. “No we don’t know anything about it, we were having lunch,” he told reporters. The players did come back out and the game continued. A PCB source later explained that although the board objected strongly, it decided not to push the matter further.

The Lord’s interview with of Imran Khan's sons

Things heated up when Sky Sports showed an interview with Imran Khan’s sons, Kasim and Suleman done by former England batter and commentator Mike Atherton. It was put out during the lunch interval at Lord’s and the topic was on worries about their father’s health and the conditions he is living under in prison. The sons talked about fears for his safety, a sharp drop in his eyesight, and the tight restrictions they say he faces. PCB officials had contacted the broadcaster beforehand and reportedly warned that the Pakistan players might stay off the field for the afternoon session if the interview was shown. Sky held the segment back for a short time while talks went on, but then aired it anyway. The team still returned after lunch and the match carried on without any further disruption on the field.

Twenty-one former international captains, among them India’s Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev have written to the Pakistani authorities asking for treatment and proper medical care for Khan on humanitarian grounds. Old teammates such as Javed Miandad have also spoken out, calling him an honest man and urging the authorities to handle his situation better. Khan has been in custody since 2023 on a string of charges and is being held in Adiala Jail. His supporters insist the cases are politically driven. The PCB, led by Mohsin Naqvi preferred to keep cricket and politics apart by telling the current players to stay silent.