Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton Pull Out of Pakistan Tour After Govt’s Mistake

Former England cricket captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain have reportedly decided not to travel to Pakistan for an upcoming ODI tri-series with England and Sri Lanka. Both sought Pakistani visas, with Hussain receiving his the day after applying, while Atherton is still awaiting his. Some social media reports suggest the decision was based on personal reasons, though neither man has publicly commented on the matter.

The Pakistan Cricket Board's six-member commentary panel for the series, set to run from October 18 to 31, does not include Atherton or Hussain. Waqar Younis, Aamir Sohail, Bazid Khan, Urooj Mumtaz, Roshan Abeysinghe from Sri Lanka, and Mark Butcher from England will make up the panel, with Zainab Abbas serving as presenter. Waqar Younis will join the team for matches beginning October 20.

This decision follows a controversy in August 2026, when Atherton aired an interview with Imran Khan's sons discussing their father's health concerns on Sky Sports. The PCB objected to the political content and filed a complaint against Sky Sports.