Usman Khawaja—the Australian batter who was born in Pakistan—didn’t stay quiet after news broke of the PCB’s complaint over Sky Sports’ broadcast . He took to social media to share his thoughts on the matter.
The controversy started on the opening day of the Lord’s Test, when Sky Sports aired an interview with Imran Khan’s son during the lunch interval. The Pakistan Cricket Board wasn’t happy about it and lodged a formal complaint. Things got tense enough that, after the break, Pakistan reportedly considered walking off the pitch in protest over the segment being shown on international television.
The interview was conducted on the morning of Wednesday, August 26, in the Writers’ Room at Lord’s, where Imran Khan’s sons, Suleiman and Kasim, sat down to talk to Mike Atherton. The talk was emotional—both sons had expressed concerns about their father’s health after three years in prison.
According to reports, the PCB had actually reached out to Sky Sports before the lunch break even began, making their objections clear and warning that Pakistan’s players might not return to the field if the interview went ahead. The interview never aired on PTV, the broadcaster covering the series back in Pakistan.
Khawaja on PCB Sky Spat
All of this comes against the backdrop of growing concern over Imran Khan’s well-being. Pakistan’s Supreme Court had directed that he be taken to Shifa Hospital in Islamabad for treatment, but instead he was moved to the state-run PIMS facility, examined, and then returned to prison. The former World Cup-winning captain, now 73, has spent the last three years behind bars.
Usman Khawaja had reacted on an Instagram post where he wrote
“This has got to be a joke,” Khawaja wrote.
This incident wasn’t the first time cricket figures had spoken up. Earlier, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received a letter signed by Mike Atherton and twenty other former national captains—including India’s Sunil Gavaskar—appealing for Imran Khan to receive proper medical care. The letter reflected international concern, both over his health and his ongoing imprisonment. Australia’s current Test captain, Pat Cummins, also weighed in publicly, sharing his concerns on social media.
Sky Sports Cricket Interview with Imran Khan’s Sons
