Imran Khan’s sons, Sulaiman and Kasim, have publicly lashed out at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and its chief, Mohsin Naqvi, labeling their reported threats to abandon a Test series as “absolute fools.” The criticism follows reports that the PCB threatened to boycott the Pakistan cricket team’s ongoing tour of England after a Sky Sports interview with the brothers regarding their father’s imprisonment was aired during the second Test.
The interview, conducted by England cricketing legend Michael Atherton, sparked immediate ire from the Pakistani cricket authorities. According to reports from both Pakistan and the UK, the PCB threatened to pull the team from the field if the broadcast proceeded. While the interview was briefly delayed, it was eventually aired, and the match continued. Officially, neither the team management nor players acknowledged the boycott threat, with former coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and captain Babar Azam denying any knowledge of such directives.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Kasim Khan was blunt in his assessment of the PCB’s reaction, stating, “They made absolute fools of themselves.” His brother, Sulaiman, echoed this sentiment, expressing shock at the board’s lack of judgment. “I was expecting some sort of response,” Sulaiman noted. “But I didn’t think they would be so tactless as to threaten not to take to the field.”
Sulaiman further argued that the PCB’s intervention was entirely misplaced. He emphasized that the conversation was never intended to be a political maneuver, but rather an appeal regarding the humanitarian crisis and the declining health of their father, who has been incarcerated for nearly three years. “It shouldn’t be in the remit of the Pakistan Cricket Board to ask for an interview about an ex-Pakistan player, somebody who lived in England for 22 years, to be taken down,” he added.
The situation surrounding Imran Khan’s imprisonment has become increasingly tense. Mohsin Naqvi, who currently holds the position of Pakistan’s Interior Minister in addition to his role at the PCB, is widely viewed as a political opponent of the former Prime Minister. The brothers’ public criticism adds another layer of pressure to an already volatile atmosphere.
The sons’ comments come on the heels of a broader international outcry. A collective of 21 former international cricket captains—including Indian icons Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev—recently penned an appeal to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The group urged the government to ensure the welfare and medical treatment of the former Pakistani captain, specifically calling for an independent assessment by a Supreme Court-appointed medical board. Concerns have heightened following reports that Imran Khan has suffered vision loss in his right eye while in Adiala Jail.
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