Pakistan's players were seemingly kept outside one of the biggest controversies surrounding their Lord's Test against England, with head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed revealing that neither he nor the team knew about the Pakistan Cricket Board's reported threat to abandon the match. The dispute centred on a Sky Sports interview with Imran Khan's sons, Suleiman and Kasim, which was broadcast during the lunch interval on the opening day.
According to reports, the PCB had warned the England and Wales Cricket Board that Pakistan could consider pulling out of the Lord's Test and potentially abandoning the remainder of their England tour if the interview was aired. Yet, as the controversy unfolded around them, Pakistan's players continued with their preparations
and eventually returned to the field after lunch.
Sarfaraz's comments offered a striking indication of how detached the team was from the board-level dispute.
'We don't know about the interview'
Asked about the interview after the end of the second day's play, Sarfaraz said the Pakistan camp had not been aware of the issue.
"I don't know anything. I'm just focusing on the match. You're talking about the interview? We don't know about the interview," Sarfaraz told reporters.
The former Pakistan captain was also asked whether there had been any possibility of the players refusing to return to the field following the lunch break.
"All are OK. We were having lunch at that time," he replied.
The comments suggest the reported threat never translated into a discussion within the playing group, despite the potential implications for a Test that was already underway.
Why did the PCB object to the Sky Sports interview?
The controversy was triggered by an interview conducted by former England captain and Sky Sports broadcaster Michael Atherton with Suleiman and Kasim Khan.
The pair discussed their father Imran Khan's situation, including concerns over his treatment and security while he remains in custody. They also questioned the UK government's response to the former Pakistan prime minister's circumstances.
Imran, 73, has remained in prison since 2023 after being convicted in corruption-related cases, allegations he has denied.
The interview was particularly sensitive because of the political status of Imran Khan in Pakistan. The PCB is headed by Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan's interior minister, adding another layer to an already politically charged dispute.
Pakistan's players carried on regardless
Despite the reported warning from the PCB, the Lord's Test did not stop.
A version of the Sky Sports interview was eventually broadcast during the lunch interval, after which Pakistan returned to the field. There was no walkout and the Test proceeded as scheduled.
The episode also created a curious broadcasting situation in Pakistan.
The match was being shown by state broadcaster PTV using Sky Sports' international feed. However, PTV did not broadcast the interview featuring Imran Khan's sons, meaning viewers in Pakistan did not receive the same coverage as audiences watching Sky Sports in the UK.
That contrast made the incident more than simply a disagreement between a cricket board and a broadcaster. It also highlighted the intersection of cricket, broadcasting and politics surrounding Pakistan's national team.
The controversy did not appear to affect Pakistan's preparations
Sarfaraz's comments indicate that the team remained focused on the cricket rather than the dispute developing away from the playing area.
That distinction is significant. A reported threat to withdraw from an ongoing Test would ordinarily represent a major disruption for a touring side, particularly during a high-profile series in England.
Instead, Pakistan's players continued playing while the disagreement played out between the respective authorities and broadcasters.
By the end of the second day, England had reached 81 for 3 in their second innings and held a 261-run lead.
For Pakistan, the immediate sporting challenge therefore remained the same: stay alive in the Test.
The political controversy surrounding the broadcast, meanwhile, was left firmly outside the dressing room - at least according to the team's head coach.
