slug: “pcb-tri-series-commentary-panel-atherton-hussain”
category: “Cricket News”
headline: “Atherton, Hussain Missing From PCB’s Tri-Series Commentary Panel After Imran Khan Sons Interview”
seo_title: “PCB Tri-Series Commentary Panel Snubs Atherton, Hussain”
meta_description: “Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain are missing from the PCB’s six-member panel for the Pakistan-England-Sri Lanka ODI tri-series starting Oct 18.”
focus_keyphrase: “PCB tri-series commentary panel”
image_url: “hourly-1132-pcb-tri-series-commentary-panel-atherton-hussain.webp”
image_credit: “Image: ABP Live (via ICC)”
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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced its commentary team for the men’s ODI tri-series featuring Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka — but two familiar voices are absent. Former England captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain have been left out of the PCB tri-series commentary panel for the tournament running from October 18 to 31.
Atherton and Hussain are among the most recognised figures in international cricket broadcasting, making their omission from the latest assignment notable. Both were part of the broadcast team during England’s previous tour of Pakistan for a three-match Test series in October 2024.
Who made the PCB tri-series commentary panel
The six-member panel features former Pakistan cricketers Waqar Younis, Aamir Sohail, Bazid Khan and Urooj Mumtaz. They will be joined by renowned Sri Lankan commentator Roshan Abeysinghe and former England cricketer turned commentator Mark Butcher. Zainab Abbas will serve as the presenter for the series.
Waqar Younis will be available from the second fixture between Pakistan and England, scheduled at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 20.
The series gets underway on Sunday with the curtain-raiser between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi. After the first two fixtures, England and Sri Lanka meet at the same venue on October 22, before the action moves to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, which hosts the remaining league matches on October 25, 27 and 29. The final takes place on October 31.
The Imran Khan interview controversy
The omission has drawn attention because it comes about two months after Atherton and Hussain conducted an interview with Kasim and Sulaiman Khan, the sons of former Pakistan prime minister and cricket great Imran Khan.
The conversation took place during the England-Pakistan Test at Lord’s in August 2026 and was broadcast by Sky Sports. The roughly 18-minute interview brought attention to concerns about Imran Khan’s health while he remains imprisoned.
No official statement has linked the interview to the PCB’s decision, and the board has not offered a reason for selecting a panel without Atherton and Hussain. The PCB has not publicly explained why the two commentators were left out.
Indian media outlets reporting the story have noted that the PCB objected to the political nature of the Sky Sports broadcast at the time, with some reports saying the board lodged a formal complaint with the broadcaster. Sky Sports aired the interview as planned.
What it means for the series
The tri-series is a significant home assignment for Pakistan, with England and Sri Lanka both touring. The commentary panel will shape how the series is presented to a global audience, and the absence of two of the game’s best-known English voices is already a talking point among fans.
For Pakistan, the series carries competitive weight too. Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi says the team is firmly focused on ODI cricket and treating the tri-series as key preparation for the 2027 World Cup. The home assignment follows Pakistan’s Asian Games cricket campaign, with a home ODI series against Ireland also on the horizon in January (details here).
Who is on the PCB tri-series commentary panel?
Waqar Younis, Aamir Sohail, Bazid Khan, Urooj Mumtaz, Roshan Abeysinghe and Mark Butcher, with Zainab Abbas as presenter. Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain are not included.
Why are Atherton and Hussain missing?
The PCB has given no official reason. Their omission follows their August 2026 Sky Sports interview with Imran Khan’s sons about his prison health, though no statement has linked the two.
When does the tri-series start?
The ODI tri-series begins October 18 with Pakistan vs Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi and runs until the final on October 31 in Lahore.
