Pakistan threaten to boycott ENG vs PAK Lord's Test over interview with Imran Khan's sons
Pakistan make a solid start against England in the first innings of the Lord’s Test.
The second Test between England and Pakistan at Lord’s has already produced immense drama on the field, with the visitors making a strong start following a disappointing run in their opening match at Headingley. In the second Test, the Pakistan bowlers put the hosts under significant pressure.
Pakistan bowlers did a remarkable job against England batters, picking up 9 wickets on Day 1 of the Lord’s Test. Mohammad Abbas’ bowling spell remained a highlight of the innings, as Jamie Smith and Jordan Cox remained the only English batters to score half-centuries.
In one of the most iconic venues of world cricket, an unexpected controversy unfolded away from the action during the lunch interval on Day 1. What initially appeared to be a television interview soon escalated into a major controversy, involving a clash between the Pakistan Cricket Board and the official broadcaster, Sky Sports.
The incident that triggered the conflict involved former Pakistani captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned since 2023 after the new government took over Pakistan. His sons, Sulaiman and Kasim Khan, were recently interviewed by Michael Atherton for Sky Sports.
PCB threatened to keep Pakistan off the field
Catch Every Update, Anytime, Anywhere
According to reports, the Pakistan Cricket Board lodged an official complaint with Sky Sports and said they will keep Pakistan players off the field in the second session if the interview shot by Sky Sports was broadcast during lunch.
The interview was an 18-minute recording at Lord’s before the Test and featured both Sulaiman and Kasim, who discussed their father’s health concerns and his present condition in prison.
They had also mentioned their belief that their father’s political influence had not disappeared despite his imprisonment. Since the conversation involved political discussions, the PCB was opposed to its broadcast during the Test.
Sky Sports initially delayed the segment following the PCB’s objections; however, they eventually aired it live during the Lunch break on Day 1.
What the PCB had claimed remained an extraordinary possibility, where a team would not take the field following a session’s play. The ECB was also informed about the whole development.
However, the PCB could not hold onto their threat, as the situation did not escalate, and despite the interview being aired by Sky Sports, the Pakistan team returned to the field for the second session post-lunch.
In the meantime, several international players, including a group of 21 ex-captains from different parts of the world, including legends Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Michael Atherton himself, renewed an appeal to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to consider Imran Khan’s release.
Why did PCB threaten to boycott ENG vs PAK Lord’s Test?
The central issue for the PCB was the broadcast of the politically sensitive interview during coverage of an international cricket match.
Did a team ever boycott a Test match in the second session?
No team has ever actually boycotted or refused to take the field for the second (afternoon) session of a Test match.
For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.
Subhomoy Datta has been a sports writer since 2022. He holds a BSc in Microbiology from Rastraguru Surendranath College, WBSU, and is currently pursuing his master’s at NIT Surathkal. With a growing interest in sports journalism, he enjoys following the game closely and turning sporting moments into stories for fans.