Sarfaraz Ahmed Denies Pakistan Players Were Aware of England Tour Boycott Threat

Pakistan head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed has dismissed reports that the team was aware of a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) threat to abandon the England tour over a Sky Sports interview featuring the sons of former Pakistan captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The controversy surfaced during the lunch interval on the opening day of the second Test at Lord’s after Sky Sports aired an interview with Kasim and Sulaiman Khan. The brothers spoke about their father’s health and conditions in prison.

Sarfaraz, speaking after the second day’s play, said neither he nor his players had any knowledge of the reported dispute between the PCB and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

“I don’t know anything. I’m just focusing on the match,” Sarfaraz said.

Asked specifically about the interview, he added: “We don’t know about the interview.”

Sarfaraz was also questioned about reports that Pakistan could have refused to return for the afternoon session on Day 1.

“All are OK. We were having lunch at that time,” he replied.

PCB-ECB DISPUTE OVER IMRAN KHAN INTERVIEW

The PCB is understood to have raised the possibility of cancelling the Lord’s Test and withdrawing from the remainder of the three-match series if the interview was broadcast. Sky Sports initially delayed the segment after receiving a complaint but later went ahead with the pre-recorded interview.

The interview was conducted by former England captain Michael Atherton. Imran Khan’s sons discussed their concerns about their father’s health, security and treatment, while also criticising the UK government’s response to his situation.

Imran Khan, 73, has been imprisoned since 2023 after being convicted in corruption cases that he denies. Before entering politics, he represented Pakistan internationally for 21 years and led the country to its only men’s ODI World Cup title in 1992. He later served as Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022.

The dispute has attracted additional attention because PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister.

The ECB reportedly sought advice from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office as tensions developed. In Pakistan, state broadcaster PTV did not air the interview despite using Sky Sports’ match coverage.

Despite the reported threat, Pakistan returned to the field after lunch and the Test proceeded as scheduled. No further complaint from Sky Sports was understood to have been made on Friday.

The incident also brought back memories of Pakistan’s controversial Test at The Oval in 2006, when the team refused to take the field after tea following an umpiring decision linked to alleged ball tampering. Pakistan were subsequently adjudged to have forfeited the match, the only Test in history to have ended that way.

There was no repeat at Lord’s, with the match continuing normally. England ended Day 2 on 81/3 in their second innings, holding a 261-run lead.

SUPPORT GROWS FOR IMRAN KHAN

The dispute over the Sky Sports interview comes amid growing concern within the cricketing community over Imran Khan’s health and treatment.

Twenty-one former international captains, including Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Greg Chappell, Allan Border, Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook and Clive Lloyd, have renewed an appeal to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. They called for humane treatment, adequate medical care and continued access to family visits.

The appeal followed a Pakistan Supreme Court order calling for a medical assessment of Khan and directing that he be moved to hospital. He has remained in custody since August 2023, with particular concern surrounding his eyesight and wider health.

Former Australia captain Greg Chappell has also spoken about Khan’s prolonged isolation, while current Australia captain Pat Cummins publicly backed calls for him to receive appropriate care.

“Adding my support here to GC and the other former international captains. I hope the court ordered medical assessment be allowed to run its course, and that family visits continue. I hope Imran Khan is treated with the dignity anyone deserves,” Cummins said.

The involvement of former and current international cricketers has broadened the issue beyond Pakistan’s political sphere, with growing calls for Khan to receive medical attention and regular access to his family.

England are scheduled to return to Pakistan in October for a one-day tri-series involving Sri Lanka. The trip will be their fourth separate visit to Pakistan in four years following a 17-year gap between tours due to security concerns.