Pakistan to meet King Charles after Lord's controversy

Pakistan will have an audience with King Charles this week, days after a threat to cancel their tour of England was made because of an interview with the sons of Imran Khan.

During lunch on day one of the second Test, Sky Sports aired an interview with Suleiman and Kasim Khan, the sons of former Pakistan captain and prime minister Imran.

Imran Khan has been in prison for the past three years on charges of corruption, which he denies.

Before the interview was aired, the Pakistan Cricket Board raised the prospect of not resuming the second Test at Lord's and cancelling the remainder of the three-match series.

At the time, the England and Wales Cricket Board took government advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Buckingham Palace has confirmed the King is expected to meet the tourists later this week in an engagement planned before the series began.

"His Majesty the King, as Head of the Commonwealth, will receive the Pakistan Men's Test Cricket Team for an audience in the gardens of Clarence House, in the break between the second and third Test matches hosted in England over the summer," said a statement.

It is understood His Majesty will spend around 15 minutes with the Pakistan team.

Legendary all-rounder Imran Khan, 73, had a 21-year international career for Pakistan and famously led his team to World Cup glory in 1992.

He served as Pakistan's prime minister from 2018 to 2022 and was jailed a year later.

In December of last year, Imran Khan's sister appealed to King Charles in his position of head of the Commonwealth to speak out on the situation.

According to The Times, Aleema Khanum said: "Pakistan is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

"Its key principles in the charter are rule of law, democracy, and human rights. A member nation is busy destroying all three fundamental principles.

"Member states, especially where King Charles is the head of the Commonwealth organisation, don't speak out against fascism or military dictatorship? What is the point of just organisations then?"

The chairman of the PCB, Mohsin Naqvi, serves as interior minister for the current Pakistan government. The PCB has been contacted for confirmation Naqvi will be present for the audience with the King.

Before the interview with Khan's sons aired, Sky received a complaint, yet pressed ahead with airing a version of former England captain Michael Atherton's conversation with Suleiman and Kasim.

In the interview, Suleiman and Kasim expressed concerns over the treatment and security given to their father, as well as criticising the UK government's response.

Despite the controversy caused by the interview, the Pakistan team returned to the field as scheduled after lunch on the opening day of the second Test.

At the close of play on the second day, Pakistan coach Sarfaraz Ahmed said he and his team did not know about the interview.

"I don't know anything. I'm just focusing on the match," said Sarfaraz. "You're talking about the interview? We don't know about the interview."

In October, England will tour Pakistan for a one-day tri-series against the home side and Sri Lanka.

It will be England's fourth separate tour of Pakistan in the past four years following a 17-year gap between visits to the country because of security concerns.