Overview
- Sky Sports broadcast an 18-minute interview recorded by former England captain Mike Atherton during the lunch interval at Lord’s on Thursday, and the Pakistan Cricket Board warned before the break that its players might not return if the segment aired.
- In the interview Imran Khan’s sons said they feared for his life, reported major loss of vision in one eye, and alleged prolonged confinement in a small cell without adequate conditions.
- Pakistan’s players ultimately returned to the field and play continued, but the PCB lodged a formal complaint with Sky; Sky acknowledged receipt and declined to comment while Pakistan’s state broadcaster PTV did not show the segment.
- The episode deepens an active dispute over Imran’s medical care after the Pakistan Supreme Court ordered a transfer to Shifa International Hospital and authorities instead carried out a brief exam at the state-run PIMS before returning him to jail.
- Pressure on Pakistani authorities has grown from within cricket and beyond with letters from 21 former international captains and public comments from active players, and the row could prompt further diplomatic exchanges and formal reviews by cricket bodies.