Will Pakistan Boycott Lord's Test? Massive Blow For Mohsin Naqvi and PCB

The ongoing Lord's Test between England and Pakistan is under some sort of controversy with the visitors reportedly threatening to boycott the match. This is due to an interview that was broadcasted on Day 1 during the lunch interval.

During the lunch break, the host broadcaster Sky Sports aired a previously-recorded interview of Kasim and Sulaiman Khan, the sons of the legendary Pakistan captain and former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The interview was conducted by former England cricketer and current commentator Michael Atherton.

This led the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to lodge a formal complaint as they raised objections to the timing of the interview, which was during the ENG vs PAK 2nd Test. Pakistan Lords boycott controversy threatened the match to be halted as the team even considering not moving out for the second session.

Will Pakistan Boycott Lord's Test?

Despite the controversy and a brief scare, Pakistan did not boycott the Lord's Test match. The players came out for the second session on Day 1 and the match was played without any hindrance later.

According to the reports, it is unlikely that the Pakistan cricket team will boycott this Test match in the upcoming days as well. However, the PCB is clearly unhappy with the host broadcater and objected to the use of political angles during a live match coverage at one of the best cricket stadiums in the world.

The PCB reached out to Sky to protest the segment ahead of the lunch session, even warning that the players would not take the field if it happens. The host broadcaster delayed the interview initially but eventually aired the 18-minute clip.

The players were already preparing to be back on the field by the time this interview ended, which took place on Wednesday morning in the Writers' Room of the stadium. Hence, the Lord's Test controversy surrounding Pakistan's boycott didn't escalate further.

Why Did PCB Threaten to Boycott Lord's Test?

The PCB considers this interview as the use of a political statement during the match. The man behind Pakistan Lords Test boycott is believed to be the PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also happens to be the country's interior minister.

Since Naqvi is a part of the current government, the board objected to the interview. Meanwhile, Imran Khan, who is considered to be one of the best all-rounders in the world, is in jail with his health also deteriorating rapidly.

Pakistan's Supreme Court ordered the government to shift Imran to the Shifa Hospital, Islamabad. However, he was instead admitted to the Pakistan Institue of Medical Sciences (PIMS), a state-run body. He was taken back to prison after a check-up.

A few days earlier, 21 former international captains, including India's Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar, urged Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif to give Imran Khan proper healthcare in prison. The letter also included Michael Atherton, the man who took the interview of Imran's sons.