Former England cricket captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton have reportedly been left out of the commentary team for the ongoing ODI tri-series by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Their names were missing from the six-member commentary panel announced by the PCB.The decision comes after Sky Sports aired an interview with the sons of former Pakistan captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan during Pakistan's tour of England earlier this year. Atherton conducted the interview with Imran's sons, Kasim and Sulaiman Khan, during the Lord's Test match.

Hussain and Atherton were both part of the commentary team when England last toured Pakistan in 2024. The interview reportedly upset the PCB because of its political nature. During the conversation, Kasim and Sulaiman raised concerns about their father's treatment in jail and his health. They alleged that the Pakistani authorities were trying to harm Imran Khan through neglect and isolation. They also claimed that their father spends more than 23 hours a day alone in a small prison cell. Kasim Khan further said that several political prisoners had died in jail and expressed fears that the authorities might treat his father in the same way. The two brothers also claimed that they had been denied visas to visit their father on what they described as "technical grounds".

Following the interview, the PCB reportedly threatened to keep Pakistan's players off the field during the afternoon session as a mark of protest. The board also lodged a complaint with Sky Sports. Pakistan's state broadcaster, PTV, did not show the interview to viewers in the country. However, there has been no official confirmation in the information available that Hussain and Atherton were excluded specifically because of the interview. The Pakistan government has denied the allegations made by Imran Khan's sons. It said that his relatives, lawyers and doctors had not been stopped from meeting him. Imran Khan has been in jail since 2023. Reports that he has lost around 75 per cent of his vision have raised serious concerns about his health. Several former cricketers have also written to the Pakistan government, asking it to ensure that the former captain receives proper medical care.