Pakistan Team Set for King Charles Audience After Lord's Dispute

Pakistan’s men’s Test team is scheduled to meet King Charles later this week during the break between the second and third Tests against England. BBC Sport reported that Buckingham Palace confirmed the audience had been arranged before the series began, separating the engagement itself from the controversy that developed during the match at Lord’s.

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That dispute followed a Sky Sports interview with Suleiman and Kasim Khan, the sons of former Pakistan captain and prime minister Imran Khan, which was broadcast during lunch on the opening day of the second Test. According to BBC Sport, the Pakistan Cricket Board raised the possibility of not returning after lunch and cancelling the rest of the three-match series before the segment aired.

The England and Wales Cricket Board sought advice from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office as the situation unfolded, the report said. Pakistan’s players ultimately resumed the match on schedule after the interval. At the end of the second day, Pakistan coach Sarfaraz Ahmed said he and the team did not know about the interview and were focused on the cricket.

In the Sky interview, Suleiman and Kasim voiced concerns about their father’s treatment and security and criticised the UK government’s response. Imran Khan, now 73, has been imprisoned for the past three years on corruption charges that he denies. He captained Pakistan to the 1992 World Cup, served as the country’s prime minister from 2018 to 2022 and was jailed the following year.

Buckingham Palace said the King would receive the Pakistan squad in the gardens of Clarence House in his role as head of the Commonwealth. BBC Sport reported that the meeting is expected to last about 15 minutes. The PCB’s chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, is also Pakistan’s interior minister, and the broadcaster said it had asked the board to confirm whether he would attend.

The audience will therefore take place against a politically sensitive backdrop, although the Palace says it was already on the calendar. Pakistan’s tour has continued despite the earlier threat, while England are also due to visit Pakistan in October for a one-day tri-series involving the hosts and Sri Lanka. BBC Sport said that trip would be England’s fourth separate tour of Pakistan in four years after a 17-year absence linked to security concerns.