The Pakistan Cricket Board had considered not sending its players to the field after the lunch break on the opening day of their second Test against England at Lord’s but eventually settled for a complaint after host broadcaster Sky Sports aired an interview of jailed former PM Imran Khan‘s sons.

The PCB, when contacted, refused to comment on the matter, but sources aware of the development said a formal complaint has been sent to Sky Sports over the matter.

Former England skipper Mike Atherton conducted the 18-minute interview with Imran’s sons, Kassim and Suleman. The two expressed fears about the well-being of their 73-year-old father, who is a celebrated former captain under whom the country won its first and only ODI World Cup in 1992.

The PCB had objected to the telecast of the conversation recorded on Wednesday (August 26, 2026) and even considered keeping its players off the field after lunch in protest if Sky went ahead with the broadcast, sources aware of the developments said.

However, the visitors did take the field as scheduled and England ended the day at 248 for nine on Thursday.

The PCB learned about the interview after Sky ran a teaser for the segment ahead of the Test. The Bard, it is learnt, contacted the broadcaster, asking it not to air the interview.

In Pakistan, PTV, which is broadcasting the series, did not show the interview.

Imran’s health has become a major talking point globally in recent weeks. He was recently taken for medical examination at the Shifa Hospital in Islamabad on the directions of Pakistan’s Supreme Court but was brought back to the prison after a check-up.

Atherton and 20 other former captains, including India great Sunil Gavaskar, sent a letter to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a few days ago asking him to ensure proper medical care for Imran, who is believed to have lost significant vision since his imprisonment.

England’s Harry Brook extended his remarkable record against Pakistan to put the hosts into ​a commanding position on the second day of the first test at Headingley.

Brook cashed in on ‌some indisciplined bowling from a lightweight seam attack to make 91 from ​93 balls as England opened a 195-run lead with two first ⁠innings wickets still standing.

It took the Yorkshireman’s average in his 12 test appearances against Pakistan above 85.

Dropped on one at second slip by Salman Ali Agha off Khurram Shahzad, Brook illuminated a grey, ‌rain-shortened day for his home crowd with an innings containing 13 fours before falling to spinner Ali Usman who finished with 5-92.

Brook shared a ‌fifth-wicket partnership of 120 with the recalled Dan Lawrence who made 51 from ‌79 ⁠balls.

Lawrence, back after two years in the wilderness, filled the boots of ⁠Ben Stokes after his retirement in positive fashion, before top-edging a sweep off Usman.

The pair made the most of the base laid earlier by Joe Root and Jordan Cox.

Root made 66 – his 109th test innings ​of 50 or more – and Cox ‌73 – the first of his career – in a stand of 150 for the third wicket.

It was a surprise when Root played across a straight ball from Khurram Shahzad to be trapped lbw, four balls after Cox departed after misjudging the length ‌of a full ball from Usman to be caught behind.

Cox, given his ​chance at No 3 by Jacob Bethell’s knee injury, hit Khurram for seven fours in the space of 12 balls on the way ⁠to a maiden test half-century.

England, who were helped by some poor ground fielding from Pakistan, closed on 366-8 after Usman dismissed Gus Atkinson and Ollie Robinson with successive balls in ‌the 80th over.

Even though England now have caretaker coach Marcus Trescothick in charge after the exit of Brendon McCullum from the red ball side, the run rate was up with there with the Bazball era.

“Headingley is one of quickest-scoring grounds in the country and Tres has been really good with us,” said Cox.

“He has told everyone: ‘bat your way, bat how you want to and enjoy it’ and that’s what we’ve done.

“Hopefully the ‌boys can get 50 runs tomorrow – we’ve still got Jamie Smith and Jofra Archer in there ​who can give it a good whack – and then get to our work.”

Pakistan, who last won a test in England eight years ago, are ⁠in a tight corner. With better weather forecast for the remaining three days, they look unlikely ⁠to receive much assistance from the elements in their efforts to get out of it.

“England have the upper hand but we will try to score ‌as many runs as we can second innings,” said Usman.

“We have to get the two wickets as soon as possible and then try to score runs as ​a batting unit. Hopefully our batters can make a comeback and save the test match.”

Dan Lawrence was recalled by England after two years on Thursday (August 6, 2026) to play in the first test against Pakistan and Jacob Bethell was ruled out of the three-match series by a right knee injury.

The post-Ben Stokes era starts in Leeds on Aug. 19 and Surrey batting allrounder Lawrence will have the first crack at trying to fill the prodigious shoes of the former test captain.

He is set to bat at No. 6 with wicketkeeper Jamie Smith likely to slot in one place lower down, while Bethell being sidelined has opened the door for Jordan Cox at first drop in the batting order.

Cox’s own injury misfortune meant he made his test debut only in June against New Zealand at The Oval, where he was down at No. 7.

Fast bowler Brydon Carse missed the 2-1 loss against the Black Caps because of an injury to his right hand but he was named in England’s 16-man squad for the first two tests under returning captain Joe Root, with Marcus Trescothick interim coach in the absence of the newly appointed Stephen Fleming, who had a say in selection.

Former vice-captain Ollie Pope was back after being discarded during the Ashes series in Australia where he averaged 20.83 before making way for Bethell. Seamer Sam Cook was also in, after his lone test appearance against Zimbabwe in May 2025.

Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was retained although it remained to be seen if he keeps his spot in the XI after confirmation that Lawrence, who bowls off-spin, will definitely be in the team.

Lawrence has been in the international wilderness since the last of his 14 test appearances in September 2024, having struggled batting out of position as an opener against Sri Lanka.

He has, though, been in a rich vein of form in division one of the County Championship, averaging 65.66 with five centuries in eight outings this season.

Bowling allrounders Sam Curran and Rehan Ahmed were the other options to try to balance the side in the absence of Stokes, who ended his storied England career following the series defeat by the Kiwis after 7,273 runs and 252 wickets in tests.

England has lost seven of its last nine tests and not won a series since December 2024. It also plays Pakistan at Lord’s and Birmingham.