Cricket 2026: Imran Khan sons interview aired during Pakistan v England second Test at Lord’s, Pakistan no-play threat and complaint to Sky Sports

Jamie Smith and Jordan Cox both scored fifties as England recovered from a top-order collapse against Pakistan to reach 248-9 when bad light ended Thursday’s opening day of the second Test at Lord’s — as a heated diplomatic incident hit the match.

The Pakistan Cricket Board filed a formal complaint with English broadcaster Sky Sports after it aired an interview during the lunch break with the sons of Imran Khan — the cricket legend and former Prime Minister who has been held in solitary confinement for three years and it in ill health. Pakistan reportedly threatened not to return to the field.

Watch every ball of the England vs Pakistan Test Series live & exclusive on FOX SPORTS, available on Kayo | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

Kasim Khan said in the interview, with former England captain Michael Atherton: “It is not very clear what they are doing, just blatantly trying to kill him in there. Keep him in as long as possible, and silence him.”

Atherton said during the broadcast: “This is a humanitarian appeal, because there are increasing concerns about the health and wellbeing of Imran Khan.”

A group of former international cricket captains this week again co-signed a letter, initiated by former Australian skipper Greg Chappell, calling on Pakistan to properly care for Imran while he remains in custody. The legendary cricketer has lost most of the vision in his right eye, according to his lawyers.

“The former players who signed the letter, many of them played against Imran. He’s held in the highest regard as a former player, one of the greatest players that Pakistan have produced,” Atherton said.

“And as his son said there, there’s an increasing sense of urgency around his health and we want to make sure he gets the proper and requisite medical care.”

According to Cricinfo: “The PCB is understood to have contacted Sky ahead of the lunch break to protest the segment, threatening that their players would not return to the field after lunch if it aired. During those conversations, Sky delayed the interview, before eventually running the 18-minute clip. By the time it had concluded, Pakistan’s players were preparing to return to the field to resume the second session, at 2.40pm.”

Meanwhile, veteran paceman Mohammad Abbas took three wickets for four runs in 16 balls, including the prize scalp of England captain Joe Root for four, as the hosts slumped to 36-3, after Pakistan won the toss in helpful conditions for seam bowling.

But Smith’s 61 and 55 from number three Cox — his second fifty in successive Test innings — got England back into the game.

Abbas had fine figures of 4-56 in 15 overs and fellow seamer Mohammad Ali 3-67 in 17 when the umpires ruled it was unsafe to continue despite the floodlights illuminating the ground.

“I think it is a decent enough day for us,” Smith told Sky Sports after the close. “The ball was doing enough, nipping around — overhead conditions obviously assisted.”

Pakistan were woeful in all departments during an innings and 103-run defeat in the first of a three-Test series at Headingley last week.

They did, however, have the worst of the conditions after losing the toss before being dismissed for meagre totals of 171 and 135.

It was a different story in London, with Pakistan captain Babar Azam opting to field on a green-tinged pitch under grey skies following a rain delay.

Azam was the only change to either side, as he returned from a finger injury in place of stand-in skipper Salman Ali Agha.

England had dropped fast bowler Brydon Carse, who did not play in the first Test, from their squad after another late-night drinking incident.

Abbas, who has had stints with several English counties, was soon into his stride on a ground where he was named player of the match after taking eight wickets in Pakistan’s victory in their last Test at this venue in 2018.

“My first man-of-the match was at Lord’s, that’s why it’s my favourite ground — hopefully I will put my name on the honours board this time,” said Abbas, as he eyed a five-wicket haul.

The 36-year-old was fortunate, however, when Emilio Gay glanced a legside ball only for diving wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan to hold an excellent one-handed catch.

Ben Duckett fell for 17 when lbw to an Abbas nip-backer.

Medium-pace bowling with the ‘keeper standing up to the stumps has plagued England in recent times and Rizwan was up to the wicket when Abbas pinned Root on the back leg.

“Joe is a big batter, so I was pleased to get him with Rizwan coming up,” said Abbas. “When the ‘keeper is up, I am asking (questions), so we are making a plan.” Harry Brook was then bowled for 15 by a superb Ali delivery that jagged back, with England 80-4 at lunch.

Dan Lawrence had made 10 when he flicked to midwicket only for Shan Masood to drop a seemingly routine catch.

Pakistan’s fielding was poor as they tumbled to the bottom of the World Test Championship table with defeat in Leeds.

But when Lawrence turned spinner Ali Usman legside and set off for a non-existent single, only to be sent back by Cox, he was run out by Masood’s accurate throw from mid-wicket to Rizwan.

Cox struck consecutive legside boundaries off Usman to complete an 88-ball fifty, including seven fours.

His partnership of 67 with Smith ended when substitute fielder Agha held a superb catch at second slip off Khurram Shahzad.

Smith, whose fifty came from a mere 63 balls, was clean bowled by Ali and two balls later the paceman dismissed tailender Ollie Robinson with another nip-backer.