Pakistan Cricket Board Files Sky Complaint Over Imran Khan Interview

The Pakistan Cricket Board has made a formal complaint to Sky Sports over an interview with the sons of former Pakistan captain and prime minister Imran Khan, according to The Guardian. The interview with Kasim and Sulaiman Khan was broadcast during Sky's coverage of the opening day of the second Test between England and Pakistan at Lord's.

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The Guardian reported that Khan's sons used the interview to raise concerns about their father's treatment by the Pakistan government. Khan, 73, has been held in solitary confinement for the past three years. The precise terms of the PCB's complaint have not been disclosed, beyond the report that it objected to Sky giving airtime to people who were critical of the government.

Sky acknowledged that it had received the complaint when contacted by The Guardian but declined to comment further. The England and Wales Cricket Board has also been informed of the PCB's concerns and similarly declined to comment, the newspaper reported.

The interview came amid renewed scrutiny of Khan's health and prison conditions. According to The Guardian, he was taken to hospital last week for treatment after a supreme court ruling allowed a temporary release, before being returned to prison. His lawyers have alleged that his conditions have seriously damaged his health, including his eyesight. Those remain claims made by his legal representatives.

Prominent former international cricketers have also called attention to Khan's situation. The Guardian reported that a group including six former England captains, former India captain Kapil Dev and former Australia batters Adam Gilchrist and Greg Chappell sent a second joint letter this week seeking a full, independent assessment of Khan's health, with particular attention to his right eye. The group had issued an earlier appeal in February for humane treatment and appropriate medical care.

No Pakistan players signed the letter, according to the report. The complaint now places the political controversy surrounding one of Pakistan cricket's most celebrated former players directly alongside the broadcast of a current Test series, although neither Sky nor the ECB has publicly detailed its response beyond acknowledging the matter.