The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has excluded former England cricketers Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain from its commentary panel for the men's ODI tri-series featuring Pakistan, England, and Sri Lanka.
The board announced the decision on Saturday, October 17, without giving a reason for leaving out the two broadcasters.
The move follows controversy over Atherton's August 2026 interview with the sons of imprisoned former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Six Commentators Named for the Tournament
The PCB named six commentators for the tournament, which runs from October 18 to 31.
The panel includes former Pakistan internationals Waqar Younis, Aamir Sohail, Bazid Khan, and Urooj Mumtaz, alongside Sri Lankan commentator Roshan Abeysinghe and England's Mark Butcher.
Zainab Abbas will serve as the presenter.
Younis is scheduled to join the commentary team from the second match, when Pakistan face England at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 20.
Pakistan will open the tournament against Sri Lanka on Sunday, October 18, at the same venue.
England and Sri Lanka are scheduled to meet in Rawalpindi on October 22.
The tournament will then move to Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium for the remaining three league matches on October 25, 27, and 29, according to the published schedule.
The final is scheduled for October 31 at Gaddafi Stadium, with the two teams finishing highest in the league standings advancing to the title match.
The dispute began when Sky Sports broadcast an 18-minute interview conducted by Atherton with Kasim and Sulaiman Khan during the England-Pakistan Test at Lord's.
The interview focused on their father's deteriorating health in prison and their allegations of neglect and isolation by authorities.
During the interview, Imran Khan's sons said authorities were "blatantly trying to kill him" through neglect and isolation.
The PCB objected to the broadcast because of its political content and filed a formal complaint with Sky Sports.
The source report also said the board considered keeping Pakistan's players off the field for an afternoon session in protest.
Sky Sports nevertheless aired the interview, while Pakistan's state broadcaster, PTV, censored it within the country.
Atherton subsequently addressed the controversy on a podcast with Hussain, defending his involvement in the interview and criticizing the treatment of Imran Khan in Pakistani public life.
Atherton said the Pakistani state was trying to "airbrush Imran almost out of existence".
