![Instances when IND-PAK refused to take the field [Source: AFP, X]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1787894527407_InstanceswhenIND-PAKrefusedtotakethefield.jpg?type=hq)
Instances when IND-PAK refused to take the field [Source: AFP, X]
Things escalated during the England vs Pakistan second Test match as the visitors (Pakistan) threatened to boycott the ongoing Lord’s Test over Sky Sports’ interview with Imran Khan’s sons. According to Cricinfo, the PCB lodged a formal complaint with broadcaster Sky Sports and considered pulling its players off the field.
The issue reached its boiling point when SKY aired a pre-recorded video of Kasim and Sulaiman Khan, the sons of Imran Khan. The segment saw the brothers voice serious concerns about their father's declining health and worsening eyesight.
PCB objected to airing political content and threatened to stay inside their dressing room for the second session. SKY delayed the interview, but it was aired during the lunch break instead.
This is not the first time in cricket that a team has threatened to boycott a session or a match, and in this article, we take a look at 5 instances when a cricket team decided not to come onto the field.
1) 2006 Pakistan ball-tampering controversy
During the fourth day of the fourth Test match between England and Pakistan at the Oval, the Pakistan team was charged with ball-tampering allegations by umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove.
The Pakistan team refused to take the field after the allegations. The two umpires waited for two minutes after the tea break, and when the Pakistan side refused to come out, the bails were removed and England was declared the winner of the Test.
The ICC and ECB later admitted that the decision to award England the win in the Oval Test was in accordance with the laws of cricket. Later on, the ICC Match referee, Ranjan Madugalle, acquitted Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq of ball-tampering charges; however, he was banned for four ODIs for bringing the game into dispute.
2) Mike Denness and Sachin Tendulkar controversy in 2001
During India’s second Test match against South Africa in 2001 in Port Elizabeth, match referee Mike Denness found six Indian players guilty of various offences.
Sachin Tendulkar was caught on camera running his nails around the seam of the ball, which was deemed unfair by Denness, stating that it doesn’t fall under the ICC guidelines, and he eventually termed it as ball-tampering.
Denness was criticised for failing to explain his decision at the press conference, and in India, there was huge outrage as fans protested against the decision. The BCCI threatened to call off its tour of South Africa unless Denness was replaced as match referee for the third Test.
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The ICC supported Denness, but the South African team sided with India, and the two teams played an unofficial Test match (the third Test). Denness was replaced by Denis Lindsay as the match referee.
3) The Monkeygate incident
The Monkeygate incident remains one of the most infamous incidents in the history of cricket. It was the Sydney Test between Australia and India. The scandal arose from accusations of racial abuse involving Harbhajan Singh, and Australia’s Andrew Symonds.
During the third day of the SCG Test, Harbhajan was accused of calling Symonds a “monkey”, and the Aussie took it as a racial slur, as he complained about it to the on-field umpire. The incident was reported to the match referee, Mike Proctor, who found Harbhajan guilty of a racial slur.
The Indian off-spinner was handed a three-match ban, but the Indian team strongly protested, as they threatened to pull out of the remainder of the Australian tour. The team refused to travel to Canberra for the next Test match until the matter was resolved.
A formal hearing was conducted, and the charges of racial abuse were reduced to a lesser charge of using offensive language. Instead of a three-match ban, Harbhajan was fined 50% of his match fee.
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4) Siraj-Bumrah racial abuse in Sydney
During India’s tour of Australia in 2020-21, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah were the victims of racial abuse from the Sydney crowd.
Siraj and Bumrah complained to match officials about alleged racist abuse and foul language directed at them from sections of the crowd at the SCG. Rahane, the stand-in captain, supported his players as he refused to take the field if the matter was not resolved.
India made a formal complaint after play on day three, and eventually, the officials took action against the culprits. Rahane was satisfied with how the matter was dealt with, but he was left upset with how the crowd behaved.
5) Pakistan refused to take field in Asia Cup 2025
The 2025 Asia Cup was marred by controversies, and the boiling point was reached when the Pakistan side refused to take the field in a must-win clash against the UAE. The Men in Green threatened to withdraw from the game if match referee Andy Pycroft was not removed from the tournament, citing the handshake row.
This upset Salman Agha and Mike Hesson, and captain Agha even refused to attend the post-match presentation.
SKY dedicated the win to the Indian Armed Forces, and PCB eventually lodged a complaint against Pycroft, accusing the official of staying silent during the controversy.
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