London: Former Pakistan Prime Minister and legendary cricketer Imran Khan’s sons, Sulaiman Khan and Kasim Khan, have made serious allegations about their father’s treatment in prison during an explosive interview broadcast by Sky Sports during the second Test between England and Pakistan at Lord’s.
The interview, conducted by former England captain Michael Atherton during the lunch break on the opening day of the Test, focused on Imran Khan’s health, his reported prison conditions and the family’s concerns over his access to medical treatment. The interview was broadcast despite reservations reportedly expressed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Kasim Khan alleged that the authorities were deliberately keeping his father isolated and claimed that the situation had become worse in recent weeks. He said Imran Khan was being kept alone for more than 23 hours a day in a small cell.
The allegations have not been independently established. They represent the views and claims of Imran Khan’s sons, who have been campaigning internationally for greater access to their father and what they describe as improved treatment.
Kasim Khan claims father is being kept isolated
During the interview, Kasim said the family believed Imran Khan was being deliberately isolated and silenced.
He alleged that several political prisoners had died in Pakistani prisons and claimed that the same fate could be intended for his father. He also said Imran Khan had described worsening conditions during his most recent communication with members of the family.
According to Kasim, the former Pakistan Prime Minister is currently spending more than 23 hours a day alone inside his cell.
He also expressed concern about Imran Khan’s health, particularly an issue involving his eye. Kasim said his father had been wearing an eye patch and appeared visibly stressed.
The comments have added to international concerns surrounding Imran Khan’s health while he remains imprisoned. Earlier this month, the former Pakistan Prime Minister was briefly transferred to a hospital in Islamabad following a Supreme Court order after concerns about his deteriorating health. He was subsequently returned to prison.
Sulaiman raises questions over medical treatment
Imran Khan’s other son, Sulaiman, also spoke about his father’s recent medical treatment.
He claimed that the family had expected Imran Khan to be taken to a private hospital, where doctors were prepared to examine him. Instead, Sulaiman said his father was taken to a government medical facility for a short examination before being returned directly to prison.
Sulaiman alleged that doctors at Shifa International Hospital and a family member who is a doctor had been waiting for Imran Khan, but that he was not taken there.
He described the reported medical visit as an examination by government officials rather than the independent medical assessment the family had expected.
These claims have not been independently verified and should be viewed as allegations made by Imran Khan’s family.
The concerns are significant because Imran Khan’s health has become a growing issue in Pakistan. His brief hospital visit earlier in August came after weeks of public concern over his condition, with the Supreme Court ordering his transfer to a medical facility.
Michael Atherton among former captains raising concerns
The interview also came against the backdrop of growing concern among former international cricket captains.
Michael Atherton, who interviewed Imran Khan’s sons, was among former cricket captains who signed a letter addressed to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The letter reportedly called for Imran Khan to receive humane treatment and appropriate medical attention.
The involvement of prominent cricket figures has brought additional international attention to the former Pakistan captain’s situation.
Imran Khan remains one of the most influential figures in Pakistan’s cricket history. He led Pakistan to its first and only men’s ODI World Cup title in 1992 before moving into politics and eventually becoming the country’s Prime Minister.
His transition from cricketing icon to political leader has made his imprisonment an issue that extends well beyond Pakistan’s political arena.
PCB objects to Sky Sports interview
The interview also triggered a dispute involving the Pakistan Cricket Board.
The PCB reportedly objected to Sky Sports broadcasting the interview during the Test match. Despite those reservations, the broadcaster went ahead with the programme during the lunch break at Lord’s.
The PCB subsequently lodged a complaint with Sky Sports over the broadcast, according to reports. The board was reportedly unhappy that political issues involving Pakistan’s former Prime Minister had been brought into the coverage of an international cricket match.
The controversy escalated to the point where Pakistan’s players reportedly refused, or were initially reluctant, to return to the field following the lunch interval. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) intervened, and play eventually resumed.
The episode was highly unusual because an off-field dispute involving a television interview briefly threatened to interrupt an international Test match.
Imran Khan’s cricket legacy adds to the controversy
Imran Khan’s connection with cricket makes the controversy particularly significant.
As Pakistan captain, he led the team to a historic World Cup triumph in 1992. His leadership during that campaign established him as one of the country’s most celebrated sporting figures.
After retiring from international cricket, Imran Khan entered politics and founded the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He eventually became Prime Minister in 2018.
His government was removed from office in 2022 following a vote of no confidence. He subsequently faced multiple legal cases and has remained behind bars since 2023.
His imprisonment and legal battles have continued to generate political controversy, while his supporters have repeatedly accused authorities of targeting him. Pakistani authorities have rejected such accusations.
The latest comments from his sons have now brought those political tensions directly into the international cricket spotlight.
The controversy comes during England-Pakistan Test
The interview took place during the second Test between England and Pakistan at Lord’s, one of the most historic cricket grounds in the world.
Pakistan had already been under pressure after the opening Test, but its bowlers produced a strong response on the first day at Lord’s. England finished the rain-affected opening day at 248 for nine after 56 overs, with Mohammad Abbas taking four wickets and Mohammad Ali claiming three.
However, much of the attention away from the cricket centred on the interview and the subsequent PCB-Sky Sports dispute.
The timing made the episode even more striking. A major international Test was taking place while a television interview concerning one of Pakistan’s most famous former cricketers was being broadcast to an international audience.
What happens next?
The dispute between the PCB and Sky Sports could continue after the Test, particularly following the reported formal complaint by the Pakistan board.
Sky Sports has stood by its editorial decision to broadcast the interview, while discussions involving the PCB and ECB have reportedly continued.
Meanwhile, the allegations made by Sulaiman and Kasim Khan are likely to keep attention focused on Imran Khan’s health and prison conditions.
The central claims made during the interview — including allegations of prolonged isolation, inadequate medical treatment and deliberate attempts to silence Imran Khan — remain allegations from his sons and have not been independently established.
Conclusion
The interview by Sulaiman and Kasim Khan has turned an already politically sensitive issue into an international cricket controversy. Their allegations about Imran Khan’s health and prison conditions were broadcast during the Lord’s Test despite reported objections from the PCB.
The subsequent complaint to Sky Sports and reports that Pakistan’s players were initially reluctant to return to the field demonstrated how deeply intertwined Imran Khan’s cricketing legacy and political career remain.
With concerns over his health continuing and the PCB-Sky Sports dispute unresolved, the fallout from the interview could extend well beyond the second Test at Lord’s.