Former Pakistan PM Imran KhanImran Khan’s prison conditions have become the centre of a fresh controversy involving Pakistan cricket, after his sons raised concerns about his health in an interview with former England captain Michael Atherton. The interview, featuring Khan’s sons Sulaiman and Kasim, was broadcast by Sky Sports during the lunch break on Day 1 of the second Test between England and Pakistan at Lord’s.
The programme triggered a strong reaction from the Pakistan Cricket Board, with reports suggesting the Pakistan team had even considered refusing to return to the field if the interview was aired. The threat ultimately amounted to talks rather than action.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s government broadcaster PTV, which was carrying Sky Sports’ feed, reportedly switched to advertisements when the interview preview went on air rather than showing the segment. Khan’s sons raise health concernsKasim and Sulaiman spoke about what they described as deteriorating conditions for their father, who has been imprisoned since 2023.
Kasim claimed Khan had lost around 80 per cent of the vision in one eye and had recently been seen wearing an eye patch. “They are not even acting with any kind of strategy any more.
It is not very clear what they are doing, just blatantly trying to kill him in there. Keep him in as long as possible, and silence him,” Kasim said.
He claimed Khan had told relatives that the conditions had severely worsened and that he was being increasingly isolated, comparing his situation with other political prisoners who had died in custody. Kasim also described his father as visibly stressed, saying the change was particularly worrying because Khan had always appeared calm even in dangerous situations.
Why the hospital visit became controversialThe concerns came shortly after Pakistan’s Supreme Court directed that Khan be taken for a medical examination. His sons said they had initially been cautiously optimistic that he would receive proper treatment at a private hospital.
“We were cautiously optimistic. Our fears were confirmed when, instead of being taken to the private hospital, where he was meant to be taken, he was just taken to a government medical facility for a few hours, and then taken straight back to jail,” Sulaiman said.
He claimed Khan was examined for about an hour by government officials before being sent back to prison, despite doctors waiting for him at Shifa International Hospital. Khan was subsequently taken to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad on August 21 for a medical check-up before being returned to Adiala jail in accordance with the Supreme Court's orders.
