London: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has lodged a formal complaint against UK broadcaster Sky Sports for airing an interview with the sons of jailed former Prime Minister and World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan during the lunch interval on Day 1 of the second Test at Lord's.

According to ESPNcricinfo, the PCB was so aggrieved by the broadcast that it briefly considered having Pakistan players boycott the post-lunch session in protest.

The 18-minute interview was conducted by former England captain and Sky commentator Michael Atherton in the Lord's Writers' Room on Wednesday. In the feature, Imran Khan's sons, Suleiman and Kasim Khan, voiced severe concerns regarding their father's health and safety, highlighting that the legendary cricketer has been incarcerated for three years.

The PCB reportedly reached out to Sky Sports prior to the scheduled broadcast, threatening a player strike on the field if the segment went ahead. Although Sky delayed the footage slightly, it ultimately broadcast the full segment. By the time it finished airing, Pakistan's fielders were making their way back onto the pitch for the 2:40 PM local time restart.

In Pakistan, state broadcaster PTV omitted the interview from its match coverage.

Concerns surrounding Imran Khan's well-being have mounted significantly in recent weeks. Despite a Supreme Court order directing that he be transferred to Islamabad's Shifa Hospital, authorities instead took him to the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) before immediately returning him to prison. His family has alleged a violation of the court's directive and urged authorities to grant him access to his personal physician.

In response to these developments, a coalition of 22 former international cricket captains addressed a joint letter to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging his government to guarantee proper medical care for Imran.

The letter was signed by prominent former leaders including Michael Atherton, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Allan Border, Clive Lloyd, David Gower, Nasser Hussain, Steve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Alastair Cook, Michael Brearley, Belinda Clark, Alex Blackwell, Michael Gatting, Lee Germon, Kim Hughes, Arjuna Ranatunga, Andrew Strauss, Dilip Vengsarkar, and John Wright. This follows an earlier petition sent by 14 captains in February that went unanswered.

On the pitch, Pakistan maintained control on Day 1 after electing to bowl first, reducing England to 248 for nine by stumps. Fast bowler Mohammad Abbas led the attack with a four-wicket haul alongside support from Mir Hamza, counteracting half-centuries from England's Jamie Smith (61) and Jordan Cox (55). (ANI)