Pakistan vs England Lord’s Test: Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam has rejected reports suggesting that his team had considered refusing to return to the field during the Lord’s Test against England. The speculation was linked to an interview involving the sons of former Pakistan cricketer and former prime minister Imran Khan.

Pakistan eventually completed the match without interruption but suffered a heavy 194-run defeat. After the game, Babar was asked about reports claiming that there had been discussions within the Pakistan camp about not taking the field after the lunch break.

Babar categorically denied being aware of any such conversation.

What Was the Controversy During the Lord’s Test?

The second Test between Pakistan and England at Lord’s began on August 27, 2026.

According to reports cited in the supplied article, there had been speculation that the Pakistan Cricket Board could consider a strong response if British broadcaster Sky Sports aired an interview with Imran Khan’s sons during the match.

The reports claimed that Pakistan might not return to the field after lunch if the interview was broadcast.

However, these claims were never established as a confirmed plan by the Pakistan team.

After the match, Babar Azam was directly questioned about the speculation. He said that he had not heard anything about such a proposal.

When he was again asked whether he had been aware of any discussion about Pakistan refusing to resume play, Babar once more replied that he had no knowledge of it.

His response effectively distanced the players from the reports circulating around the Test.

Imran Khan’s Sons Interviewed During Lunch Break

Despite the speculation surrounding the issue, the interview went ahead during the lunch interval.

Former England captain Michael Atherton interviewed Imran Khan’s sons, Sulaiman and Kasim Khan, according to the supplied report.

During the conversation, the two reportedly spoke about their father’s health, his medical treatment and the circumstances surrounding his imprisonment.

The interview had attracted considerable attention because Imran Khan remains a major political figure in Pakistan as well as one of the country’s most celebrated former cricketers.

Nevertheless, the Pakistan team returned to the field and the Test continued as scheduled.

Pakistan Head Coach Also Rejected the Reports

Babar Azam was not the only member of the Pakistan setup to dismiss suggestions of a possible walkout.

According to the report, Pakistan head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed had also rejected claims that the team was planning to stay off the field because of the interview.

The match ultimately proceeded without any such disruption.

This is significant because the original reports had created speculation that an off-field political controversy could spill over into an international cricket match at Lord’s.

Instead, Pakistan continued playing and completed the Test normally.

Pakistan Suffer Heavy 194-Run Defeat

While the off-field controversy attracted attention, Pakistan’s difficulties on the cricket field continued.

England defeated Pakistan by 194 runs in the Lord’s Test.

It was Pakistan’s second consecutive defeat in the three-match series.

England had already dominated the opening Test, winning that match by an innings and 103 runs.

After their victory at Lord’s, England moved into an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series.

That meant Pakistan could no longer win or level the series heading into the final match.

Reports Also Claimed PCB Warned Players About Political Questions

The supplied article also refers to separate reports suggesting that the Pakistan Cricket Board had advised players to avoid commenting on politically sensitive issues during the United Kingdom tour.

According to those reports, players were allegedly told not to respond to questions involving politics.

However, the article itself notes that this instruction had not been officially confirmed.

Because of that lack of confirmation, the reported warning should be treated as an unverified claim rather than an established PCB directive.

The political sensitivity surrounding Imran Khan made the issue particularly prominent because of his dual identity as Pakistan’s former prime minister and the captain who led the country to its 1992 Cricket World Cup triumph.

Babar Azam Makes His Position Clear

For Babar Azam, however, the response to the controversy was straightforward.

He said he had heard nothing about Pakistan refusing to return to the field and denied having knowledge of any discussion along those lines.

Sarfaraz Ahmed’s reported denial further weakened the suggestion that the Pakistan dressing room had seriously considered abandoning or interrupting the match.

The interview with Imran Khan’s sons took place, Pakistan returned to the field after the break, and the Test was completed without any protest.

In the end, the biggest setback for Pakistan was not an off-field dispute but their performance on the field. The 194-run defeat at Lord’s, following an innings defeat in the opening Test, handed England a decisive 2-0 series lead and left Pakistan searching for answers ahead of the final match.