Thanks to their being summoned to appear in the case as witnesses, both England skipper Michael Atherton and coach David Lloyd have been effectively prevented from concentrating on the preparations for the first of the three-Test Cornhill series beginning Thursday.
Atherton and Lloyd spent an unproductive day in court on Tuesday, and were summoned again on Wednesday by Imran's counsel Sir George Carmen QC. Both captain and coach, thus, missed England's final nets.
Atherton is expected to be relieved in time for the Test, but Lloyd's involvement in England's cricketing battle against Pakistan could be further affected if the court proceedings drag on.
England has, in the event, been further hit by injuries to Nasser Hussain and Chris Lewis, making them both doubtful starters for the first Test. The situation calls for consultations between captain and coach - something that has not been possible, thanks to their court appearances.
The Test and County Cricket Board lawyers had earlier made representations to Imran's legal team, requesting that the key England personnel not be summoned during the period of the Test. But the case has dragged longer than anyone expected it to, and in the process delayed the appearances of both Lloyd and Atherton, who were summoned after the latter brought up the subject of ball-tampering in his recent book.
Former wicket-keeper Alan Knott and former fast bowler Peter Lever have in the event taken charge of England's practise sessions, and their first task on Wednesday is to rule on the fitness of Hussain and Lewis.
Hussain has not played since injuring his finger in the final Test against India at Trent Bridge. ''Mike Atherton and David Lloyd have given me every chance to prove myself,'' the India-born England number three said. ``I'll know how fit I am when I give it a proper whack tomorrow, in the nets.''
''I'm hoping and praying that I make it,'' Hussain said. ``I'm on a good run, and you do not want to give your place to somebody else when you are doing well.''
Lewis is also doubtful after colliding with Paul Jarvis during Surrey's county match against Sussex earlier this week. Lewis, who since his return to the England side in course of the recent series against India has taken over the role of bowling spearhead, strained his thigh in the incident.
Lewis, though, was fit enough to help test a new radar system that will measure the speed of each ball, and in the process settle all dispute about who the fastest bowler in the world is.
The system, akin to the one used in tennis to guage the speed of a serve, is called 'Sword Sniper' and will be tested for the first time at Lord's when England take on Pakistan on Thursday, and again during the third and final Test between the two sides, in August. The system measures the speed of the delivery, and flashes the time on a screen at ground level.
During the trials, Lewis clocked 83mph, and experts indicated he wasn't going flat out.
The innovation, launched by sponsors Wilkinson Sword, is expected to add that extra competitive edge as the leading fast bowlers of the world seek to outdo each other in the speed with which they can hurl the little red ball.
And who better to kick off proceedings, Thursday, than Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, the Pakistan pace twins deemed the most lethal opening combination in contemporary cricket?