Sarfaraz Ahmed denies knowledge of PCB threat over Imran Khan interview

England’s head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed has denied any knowledge of a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) threat to cancel the second Test at Lord’s following a Sky Sports interview with the sons of former captain‑turned‑prime minister Imran Khan. The coach said he and his players were unaware of the PCB’s reaction and were solely focused on the match.

During the first day of the Test, Sky aired an interview with Suleiman and Kasim Khan, the two sons of Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned on corruption charges since 2023. The interview, conducted by former England captain Michael Atherton, raised concerns about the treatment and security of Imran Khan, who had served as Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 to 2022 and led the national team to a World Cup win in 1992.

The PCB reportedly warned the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) that it might cancel the Test at Lord’s and the remainder of the three‑match series if the interview was broadcast. A version of the interview was aired by Sky, and the English players returned to the field after lunch to continue the game. When asked whether the players had been told about the interview or the threat, Sarfaraz said, “I don’t know anything. I’m just focusing on the match. You’re talking about the interview? We don’t know about the interview.” He added that all players were present at lunch and “were having lunch at that time.”

The PCB’s chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister. The interview expressed worries about the safety of Imran Khan and criticised the UK government’s response. Sky had received a complaint about the plan to broadcast the interview before it went on air.

Following the incident, the ECB sought advice from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and took steps to ensure the safety of the touring team. In Pakistan, the match was being shown by the public broadcaster PTV using Sky’s footage, but PTV did not air the interview.

The Test continued after lunch and, by the end of the second day, England were 261 runs ahead at 81‑3 in their second innings. Sky received no further complaints about the interview on Friday.

This episode comes as England prepare to tour Pakistan in October for a one‑day tri‑series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It will be England’s fourth separate tour of Pakistan in four years, following a 17‑year hiatus due to security concerns. The last major incident was a 2006 Test at The Oval, abandoned after the Pakistani team was accused of ball‑tampering; Pakistan were later declared to have forfeited the match, a unique occurrence in Test history.

The situation highlights the complex interplay between cricket, politics and media. While the ECB and the touring side maintained that they were not aware of any threat, the PCB’s reaction underscores the sensitivity of broadcasting content involving the former Pakistani leader. The incident also demonstrates the measures taken by cricket authorities to manage potential diplomatic tensions during international tours.