Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has twice sought permission from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to speak publicly about the ongoing National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) inquiry, but his requests were reportedly rejected on both occasions.
In this regard, Rizwan wanted to explain his position on the controversy, including the seizure of his mobile phone following Pakistan’s Test against England at Lord’s.
He also wanted to discuss allegations connected with the inquiry and explain the contents of a letter he had written to the International Cricket Council (ICC).
In this sense, Rizwan also referred to Clause 16, which deals with cooperation between the PCB and the player.
This intention was not to accuse the PCB or another institution but to present his position and explain the sequence of events to the public.
The developments come as the NCCIA continues its inquiry involving Rizwan. During proceedings before the Lahore High Court, Rizwan’s lawyer, Qazi Umair Ali, said the cricketer had been called to a hotel lobby after the Lord’s Test and questioned without being served a notice at that time.
His counsel further told the court that Rizwan handed over his mobile phone after being assured it would be returned within three hours. The phone has reportedly not yet been returned. Rizwan had also sought clarification from the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit regarding the circumstances and forensic examination of the device.
Lahore High Court Directs Cooperation in Inquiry
The Lahore High Court has meanwhile dismissed Rizwan’s petition challenging the NCCIA proceedings while directing him to cooperate with the inquiry.
In its written order, Chief Justice Aalia Neelum stated that a call-up notice was a procedural mechanism for gathering information and did not, by itself, amount to an accusation of wrongdoing. The court found that the inquiry could proceed at the preliminary stage and said the ICC’s disciplinary framework did not prevent a state-authorised agency from conducting an investigation under applicable law.
Court Orders NCCIA Not to Harass Rizwan
While directing Rizwan to participate in the proceedings, the court also instructed the NCCIA to ensure that he was not subjected to harassment or unnecessary inconvenience and that the inquiry was conducted strictly according to law.
The court further noted that Rizwan could seek an appropriate legal remedy regarding the eventual outcome of the investigation or the return of items taken into possession.
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The NCCIA inquiry has been linked in reports to allegations involving online betting and gambling as well as alleged dressing-room information leaks during Pakistan’s England tour. Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq appeared before the agency earlier this month, while no final finding against either player has been officially announced.
