During the second match of the three-match test series between England and Pakistan, which began on August 27th at Lord's, a serious dispute arose between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the broadcaster Sky Sports. This incident added a political dimension to the game off the field.
The PCB filed an official complaint against Sky Sports and considered barring the Pakistani team from the field during the second session. The dispute stemmed from an interview with the sons of former Pakistan captain, Imran Khan—Kasim and Suleman Khan. The interview was recorded by former England captain and commentator Michael Erton at Lord's.
During the conversation, Kasim and Suleman expressed concern for their father's health while he is in prison, and about his deteriorating eyesight. It was this political context that caused dissatisfaction among the PCB.
Reports indicate that the PCB objected to the inclusion of political topics in Sky Sports' coverage of the match. The association allegedly warned that if the interview was shown, the Pakistani team might remain in the dressing room instead of taking the field after lunch. Sky Sports initially postponed the segment but later broadcast it during the lunch break. Following this, the PCB lodged a formal complaint against the broadcaster. Nevertheless, the Pakistani team eventually took the field, and the threat of a boycott was not realized.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was also informed about this situation. According to available information, the channel broadcasting the match in Pakistan did not show this interview. Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi since August 2023. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison on corruption charges. The 73-year-old Imran denies the charges, calling the cases politically motivated. His sons expressed concern over his health in the interview.
Recently, 21 former international captains appealed to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging him to ensure humane treatment and proper medical care for Imran. Among the athletes who signed this petition was Michael Erton. Former captains, including Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, demanded an independent medical examination of Imran, weekly family visits, and immediate treatment if necessary.
This is not the first time the PCB has threatened to boycott matches. During the 2025 Asia Cup, the association also caused a major stir by demanding the removal of umpire Andy Pycroft after the India-Pakistan match and warning of a boycott of the match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The ICC did not satisfy the PCB's demands and did not remove Pycroft from his post. Despite this, Pakistan eventually took the field against the UAE. The situation at Lord's developed similarly: the PCB took a hardline stance, filed a complaint, and contemplated withdrawing from the match, but the team ultimately continued playing.
In the current match at Lord's, the day proved positive for Pakistan. The team, having won the toss and decided to start with the toss, held England at 248/9 on the first day. Mohammad Abbas demonstrated excellent bowling performance, taking four wickets, while Mohammad Ali achieved three successes. England lost four batsmen at one point, trailing by 80 runs, but Jordan Cox and Jamie Smith stabilized the innings. Cox scored 55 runs, and Smith scored 61 runs.
Play on the first day was interrupted due to poor visibility. Captain Babar Azam returned to the Pakistani squad for this match, as he could not participate in the first match in Headingley due to injury. The Test match at Lord's holds great significance for the Pakistani team. In the first match of the series, England won by one innings and 103 runs.