Sarfaraz says he was unaware of PCB threat to cancel Lord's Test
Pakistan head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed said he and his players did not know about a Pakistan Cricket Board threat to the England and Wales Cricket Board over a Sky Sports interview with Suleiman and Kasim Khan that was shown during lunch on day one of the second Test at Lord's. A version of the interview was broadcast and play resumed after the interval.
Sarfaraz, the former Pakistan wicketkeeper, made the comments at the end of the second day's play and was asked about the interview during media duties. He said: "I don't know anything. I'm just focusing on the match," and added, "You're talking about the interview? We don't know about the interview." When asked if there was ever a possibility his players would return for the afternoon session on day one he said: "All are OK. We were having lunch at that time."
The interview featured Suleiman and Kasim Khan, sons of Imran Khan, and was carried by Sky Sports during the lunch interval on day one. The article states Imran Khan is 73, had a 21-year international career, led Pakistan to the 1992 World Cup, served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022 and has been in jail since 2023 on corruption charges which he denies. The BBC report also notes ex-cricket captains have urged "proper medical care" for Imran Khan.
The Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi is identified in the report as also serving as Pakistan's interior minister. The interview was conducted by former England captain Michael Atherton, and the sons expressed concerns about their father's treatment and security while criticising the UK government's response.
Sky received a complaint about the planned broadcast before it aired, and the England and Wales Cricket Board took government advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in response to tensions around the situation. In Pakistan the match was shown by the public broadcaster PTV using Sky's pictures, but PTV did not air the interview. It is understood Sky received no further complaints on Friday in relation to the interview.
Tourists resumed play after the lunch interval and the Test continued to the end of the second day, with England 261 runs ahead at 81-3 in their second innings. Players returned to the field after the interval to continue the match.
The report places this incident against the wider backdrop of England's recent engagements with Pakistan, noting England will tour Pakistan in October for a one-day tri-series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka and that this will be England's fourth separate tour of Pakistan in the past four years following a 17-year gap between visits because of security concerns. The piece also recalls the 2006 Test at The Oval that was abandoned after Pakistan refused to play after tea on the fourth day and were adjudged to have forfeited the match, the only instance in Test history when a team has forfeited a Test.
England's next confirmed trip is the one-day tri-series in Pakistan in October against Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
