PCB ignores Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain after Imran Khan controversy

ByTech Word News

Michael Atherton, Nasser Hussain (Image Agency) The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named a six-man commentary panel for the men’s ODI tri-series between Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka to be played from October 18 to 31, with prominent English commentators Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain missing from the line-up.The omission came two months after the pair interviewed Kasim and Sulaiman Khan, sons of jailed former Pakistan prime minister and cricket legend Imran Khan, during the Lord’s Test between England and Pakistan in August 2026. The PCB did not give any reason for their absence from the upcoming task.Atherton and Hussain are among the most prominent voices in international cricket commentary and were part of the broadcast team when England last toured Pakistan in October 2024 for a three-match Test series.The interview with Imran Khan’s sons, conducted by Atherton and broadcast by Sky Sports, lasted 18 minutes and raised concerns about the former Pakistan captain’s deteriorating health in prison. Kasim and Sulaiman claimed that the authorities “brazenly tried to kill” him through neglect and isolation.The broadcast prompted a strong reaction from the PCB, which objected to what it saw as the political nature of the segment and lodged a formal complaint with Sky Sports. The situation reportedly escalated to the point where the board threatened to send off the player, with Pakistan considering staying off the field for the afternoon session in protest.Sky Sports went ahead with the interview despite the pressure, although Pakistan’s state broadcaster PTV censored the segment. Atherton subsequently addressed the controversy in a podcast with Hussain, defending his involvement and saying that the Pakistani state was trying to “spray Imran almost out of existence”.Former Pakistan internationals Waqar Younis, Aamir Sohail, Bazid Khan and Urooj Mumtaz are in the commentary line-up for the upcoming tri-series along with Roshan Abeysingh of Sri Lanka and Mark Butcher of England. Zainab Abbas will be the host.Younis will join the panel from the second match when Pakistan face England at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 20. The tournament begins on Sunday, October 18, with Pakistan taking on Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi.

ODI tri-series schedule

  • October 18: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
  • October 20: Pakistan vs England, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
  • October 22: Sri Lanka vs England, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
  • October 25: Pakistan vs England, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
  • October 27: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
  • October 29: Sri Lanka vs England, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
  • October 31: Tri-series final, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore