PCB to investigate Imam-ul-Haq over suspected injury fabrication during England tour

The Pakistani cricket team has long been unable to achieve respectable results against strong opponents, especially in Test matches, where their play has been extremely disappointing. During the Test series between Pakistan and England, the Pakistani batsman once again performed poorly.

In the second match of the series, held at Lord's against England, the entire Pakistani team suffered a humiliating defeat in the first innings, scoring only 110 runs. In the second innings, the team barely managed to hold on, losing three wickets at a score of 14.

The team's main reliable batsman, Babar Azam, once again failed to meet expectations. In the first innings, he was dismissed, scoring only 8 runs. In the second innings, where high expectations were placed on him, he also failed to demonstrate his strength, being dismissed at 6 runs.

Mohammad Yusuf, a former captain and outstanding batsman for Pakistan, became angry at such a lackluster performance by Babar Azam and other batsmen. He directly blamed the team's coaching staff for the players' poor form.

Mohammad Yusuf stated in his post on social media platform X that he had warned about this problem many years ago, but some so-called coaches around Babar Azam and other players did not allow him to work on easily solvable issues. He emphasized that this failure has led to the current slump in Pakistani cricket.

Expressing his dissatisfaction on platform X, Mohammad Yusuf called these coaches 'toxic' to the sport. He noted that they lack vision; they not only hinder player progress but also guide the most talented cricketers down the wrong path.

Yusuf also cautioned young players, saying that if cricketers do not understand whose advice to take and whose to ignore, their careers will end much sooner than expected.

The former captain expressed deep regret that he had warned about the technical deficiencies of Babar Azam and other players several years ago. According to Yusuf, the technical errors that could have been corrected very easily were not fixed by these coaches. He concluded that this negligence is what has caused Pakistani cricket to go through such a difficult period.

Yusuf openly stated that the weak technique of Pakistani batsmen was fully exposed to international bowlers, whether on pitches in Bangladesh or England. What could have been corrected earlier has become the team's main weakness, causing the Pakistani team to look completely helpless and struggling at the international level today.

During the second match of the three-match test series between England and Pakistan, which began on August 27th at Lord's, a serious dispute arose between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the broadcaster Sky Sports. This incident added a political dimension to the game off the field.

The PCB filed an official complaint against Sky Sports and considered barring the Pakistani team from the field during the second session. The dispute stemmed from an interview with the sons of former Pakistan captain, Imran Khan—Kasim and Suleman Khan. The interview was recorded by former England captain and commentator Michael Erton at Lord's.

During the conversation, Kasim and Suleman expressed concern for their father's health while he is in prison, and about his deteriorating eyesight. It was this political context that caused dissatisfaction among the PCB.

Reports indicate that the PCB objected to the inclusion of political topics in Sky Sports' coverage of the match. The association allegedly warned that if the interview was shown, the Pakistani team might remain in the dressing room instead of taking the field after lunch. Sky Sports initially postponed the segment but later broadcast it during the lunch break. Following this, the PCB lodged a formal complaint against the broadcaster. Nevertheless, the Pakistani team eventually took the field, and the threat of a boycott was not realized.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was also informed about this situation. According to available information, the channel broadcasting the match in Pakistan did not show this interview. Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi since August 2023. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison on corruption charges. The 73-year-old Imran denies the charges, calling the cases politically motivated. His sons expressed concern over his health in the interview.

Recently, 21 former international captains appealed to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging him to ensure humane treatment and proper medical care for Imran. Among the athletes who signed this petition was Michael Erton. Former captains, including Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, demanded an independent medical examination of Imran, weekly family visits, and immediate treatment if necessary.

This is not the first time the PCB has threatened to boycott matches. During the 2025 Asia Cup, the association also caused a major stir by demanding the removal of umpire Andy Pycroft after the India-Pakistan match and warning of a boycott of the match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The ICC did not satisfy the PCB's demands and did not remove Pycroft from his post. Despite this, Pakistan eventually took the field against the UAE. The situation at Lord's developed similarly: the PCB took a hardline stance, filed a complaint, and contemplated withdrawing from the match, but the team ultimately continued playing.

In the current match at Lord's, the day proved positive for Pakistan. The team, having won the toss and decided to start with the toss, held England at 248/9 on the first day. Mohammad Abbas demonstrated excellent bowling performance, taking four wickets, while Mohammad Ali achieved three successes. England lost four batsmen at one point, trailing by 80 runs, but Jordan Cox and Jamie Smith stabilized the innings. Cox scored 55 runs, and Smith scored 61 runs.

Play on the first day was interrupted due to poor visibility. Captain Babar Azam returned to the Pakistani squad for this match, as he could not participate in the first match in Headingley due to injury. The Test match at Lord's holds great significance for the Pakistani team. In the first match of the series, England won by one innings and 103 runs.

Uzma Khan, the sister of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, made serious statements regarding her brother's health during a press conference, where she and other sisters became emotional. Uzma Khan stated that Imran's condition is deteriorating due to prolonged solitary confinement in prison.

According to Uzma Khan, Imran Khan told her that he is being treated inhumanely in prison. He told his sister that no one hears him and that he is suffering greatly. Uzma also asserted that Imran asked her to convey his words to the people of the country.

Uzma Khan emphasized that in Adiala Jail, Imran Khan has no contact with the outside world. He is not provided with educational materials or television. According to her, long-term solitary confinement negatively affects his health.

Uzma Khan recounted that Imran Khan was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for vision and blood pressure checks, but blood tests were not performed. She added that the family was not informed about which doctor conducted the examination. Uzma mentioned Imran's eye condition, noting that one eye was bandaged. She stated that it was dark at PIMS, and Imran was transported using the light from a mobile phone. She also mentioned asking her brother to walk slowly.

Imran Khan's personal physician, Dr. Faisal, stated that he arrived at Shifa International Hospital around 8:00 PM. He waited a long time for Imran to appear, but later hospital staff informed him that the likelihood of Imran arriving was low. After this, Dr. Faisal returned, and the meeting with Imran Khan did not take place. Imran's sisters expressed concern over his medical condition, insisting that the family should receive accurate information about his health and ensure he receives proper treatment.