India, Aug. 29 -- The England and Wales Cricket Board(ECB) turned to the UK government for assistance on the opening day of the second Test at Lord's as concerns grew that Pakistan could refuse to return to the field following lunch over a controversial Sky Sports interview. According to the Daily Mail, the ECB chief executive Richard Gould contacted Foreign Office officials after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reportedly threatened to disrupt the restart of play.

The concern centred on an interview with Suleiman and Kasim Khan, the sons of former Pakistan captain and prime minister Imran Khan. The 18-minute interview created a diplomatic dimension around the second Test of the three-match series, with the ECB seeking government suppor...