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The first day of the second Test was almost derailed after it emerged that the Pakistan Cricket Board were unhappy with Sky Sports' decision to broadcast an interview with the two sons of the imprisoned former Pakistan captain and prime minister Imran Khan.
Cricinfo reported that the PCB briefly threatened to delay the resumption after the lunch break, during which Sky broadcast Mike Atherton's interview with Suleiman and Kasim Khan, who said they feared for their father's life following three years in jail on corruption charges.
Sky delayed broadcasting the 18-minute interview, and the Pakistan team eventually took the field as planned - avoiding a repeat of the 2006 Test at The Oval, where captain Inzamam-ul-Haq detained his players in the dressing-room after umpire Darrell Hair accused them of ball-tampering. That Test was ultimately forfeited.
The heavily politicised PCB are sensitive to any criticism of government policy, and have denied mistreating the 73-year-old Imran, who was Pakistan prime minister for nearly four years until April 2022, or of forbidding prison visits by his family and lawyers.
Pakistan Cricket Board were unhappy with Sky Sports' decision to broadcast an interview with the two sons of the imprisoned ex-Pakistan captain and prime minister Imran Khan (pictured)
Khan has been in jail for three years on corruption charges and there are concerns about his health
The latest tension follows a letter sent last week to Shehbaz Sharif, the current PM, and signed by 21 former cricket captains - Atherton included - from England, Australia, India, New Zealand and West Indies, calling for Imran to receive proper medical care while behind bars.
Imran, who remains a folk hero for many millions in his home country, captained Pakistan for 48 Tests between 1982 and 1992, and most famously lifted the 1992 World Cup after beating England in the final at Melbourne.
