The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has advised players involved in the ongoing Test series against England to refrain from making public comments about the imprisonment and health of former Pakistan captain Imran Khan, according to a report by PTI. The development comes amid growing international attention on Imran's continued incarceration and concerns over his reported health condition. The issue came into sharper focus during the second Test at Lord's after Sky Sports aired an interview with Imran's sons, Suleman and Kasim Khan, during the lunch interval. According to PTI, the PCB was unhappy with the interview and considered it political in nature. However, the board decided against prolonging the dispute, with Pakistan also scheduled to attend a reception hosted by Prince Charles on September 2 and mindful of the country's diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom.
Pakistan head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed was asked during a media interaction whether the players had watched the interview with Imran's sons conducted by former England batter Mike Atherton. Sarfaraz said the players were unaware of it as they were having lunch. "No we don't know anything about it, we were having lunch," he said when asked about the interview and reports that the PCB had threatened not to send the players back onto the field after lunch if the interview was broadcast. PTI reported that the PCB subsequently advised members of the playing group not to comment on Imran's imprisonment. The move comes as international media attention around the former Pakistan captain has intensified, with several former cricketers and prominent figures voicing concerns over his reported health and access to medical treatment. Imran, 73, has been imprisoned at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi since 2023 after being convicted in corruption cases. He continues to deny the allegations. The political issue has increasingly intersected with the cricketing world because of Imran's status as Pakistan's 1992 World Cup-winning captain and one of the country's most celebrated cricketers.
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Moin Khan, a member of Imran's 1992 World Cup-winning side, recently made an emotional appeal for authorities to ensure that his former captain receives proper medical care. “Our captain Imran Khan, as you all know, is currently in Adiala jail, and his condition is quite bad at present. One more time, I will urge the authorities, the government of Pakistan and all those people who run the Adiala jail,” Moin said in a video message. “My request is that our captain’s right, as a former prime minister, as a citizen of Pakistan, his right to medical care should be honoured. Whatever he needs, it should be seen to,” he added. Moin also urged fellow cricketers to publicly express their support for Imran. “Besides, I also urge other cricketers to speak up and voice their support for him. Imran Khan’s contribution to Pakistan cricket [is immense] and all of us who played in his era learnt a lot from him. He has given Pakistan cricket a lot,” he said.
His comments came shortly after former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad also made an impassioned appeal for Imran's release, describing his former teammate as an honest person. The concerns have extended beyond Pakistan, with 22 former international captains from countries including India, England, West Indies and New Zealand writing to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif seeking adequate medical care and constitutional safeguards for Imran.
