Pakistan Cricket Team to Meet King Charles This Week After Controversy Over Imran Khan’s Sons’ Interview

London: King Charles III is expected to meet the Pakistan men’s Test cricket team this week during their tour of England, in an engagement that was arranged before the start of the series.

According to the BBC, the King, who is Head of the Commonwealth, will receive the Pakistan Test team at the gardens of Clarence House during the break between the second and third Test matches being played in England.

Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the meeting was scheduled before the series began and is not connected to the recent controversy surrounding an interview with the sons of former Pakistan captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The meeting comes days after a dispute emerged between the Pakistan Cricket Board and Sky Sports over an interview with Imran Khan’s sons, Sulaiman Khan and Kasim Khan.

Sky Sports aired the interview with the two brothers during the lunch break on the first day of the second Test at Lord’s. The interview was conducted by former England captain and Sky Sports cricket commentator Michael Atherton.

During the interview, Sulaiman and Kasim Khan raised concerns about their father’s health, his conditions in prison and his safety. Imran Khan has been imprisoned for around three years in connection with corruption charges, which he denies.

Before the interview was broadcast, the Pakistan Cricket Board had objected to its airing and, according to reports, considered the possibility of not continuing with the Test and ending the remainder of the England tour.

The England and Wales Cricket Board subsequently sought advice from the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office over the situation.

Despite the controversy, the Pakistan team continued with the series. Pakistan head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed later said that he and the players were not aware of any possible decision to boycott the match or leave the tour, adding that the team remained focused on cricket.

The upcoming meeting with King Charles is significant as the Pakistan team’s England tour has attracted considerable attention following the controversy. However, Buckingham Palace has made clear that the engagement was arranged well before the dispute and should not be viewed as a response to the controversy or as a political engagement.

The third and final Test between England and Pakistan will begin on September 9 at Edgbaston. The King’s meeting with the Pakistan team is expected to take place during the break between the second and third Tests.