Lahore: Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Rizwan has questioned the basis of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency’s (NCCIA) inquiry into allegations linked to online gambling, asking why the matter was not investigated by the International Cricket Council’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ICC ACU).
Rizwan submitted his response to the NCCIA questionnaire after being questioned as part of an investigation involving Pakistan’s recent tour of England. The wicketkeeper-batter has also sought full details of the allegations against him, saying he had not been informed about the alleged online gambling incident with which he was reportedly linked.
The development comes amid a wider investigation involving Rizwan and fellow Pakistan batter Imam-ul-Haq following Pakistan’s 3-0 Test series defeat in England. Both players were among seven cricketers sent home midway through the series, after which the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) began an internal disciplinary inquiry.
Rizwan questions NCCIA’s jurisdiction
In his written response, Rizwan questioned why the NCCIA was conducting an inquiry into allegations involving an active international cricketer.
“As a cricketer, I have served the Pakistan team to the best of my ability,” Rizwan stated in his response, according to Samaa TV.
Rizwan also argued that if the allegations concerned online gambling or possible corruption in cricket, the ICC ACU should have been involved.
“Despite being an active cricketer, the allegations against me were not reported to the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit,” he stated.
He further questioned the NCCIA’s involvement, saying it was difficult to understand why the agency was conducting an inquiry into such a matter.
The Pakistan batter has also asked the authorities to provide complete information about the allegations so that he can properly respond during the inquiry.
Lahore High Court dismisses Rizwan’s petition
The latest response came shortly after the Lahore High Court dismissed Rizwan’s petition challenging the NCCIA proceedings.
Rizwan had approached the court arguing that the agency had not adequately explained why he was being questioned and that it lacked jurisdiction over the matter. The petition was dismissed following a hearing on Thursday.
The court’s decision means the NCCIA inquiry can continue. However, the dismissal of Rizwan’s petition does not itself establish the allegations against him.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the authorities have yet to announce any final finding against the Pakistan cricketer.
Rizwan and Imam questioned by NCCIA
Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq appeared before the NCCIA in Lahore earlier this month.
The two players were questioned in connection with alleged leaks of information from the Pakistan team’s dressing room. Imam completed his response to the questionnaire, while Rizwan subsequently challenged the basis of the proceedings through legal channels.
Earlier reports said the players’ mobile phones had been taken into custody by the PCB and handed over to relevant authorities for examination.
The investigation has reportedly involved digital information as well as financial matters. According to a report cited by NDTV from Pakistan-based The News International, investigators examined financial dealings involving Rizwan and Imam and scrutinised their bank account transactions before and during the England Test series.
If investigators identify any suspicious transactions, they are expected to examine the source and destination of the funds.
PCB inquiry follows England Test series
The investigation comes after a difficult tour of England for Pakistan.
Pakistan lost all three Tests of the series, suffering their first 0-3 Test series defeat on English soil. Following the second Test, the PCB sent Rizwan, Imam and five other players home and brought seven replacements into the squad.
The board subsequently began an internal disciplinary inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the players and the team’s performance.
The NCCIA’s investigation has added another layer to the situation, with investigators examining information recovered from the players’ mobile devices and other material.
A separate NDTV report said initial examination of the mobile phones had reportedly not revealed anything significant, although further forensic analysis was continuing.
Rizwan seeks clarity over allegations
Rizwan’s latest response centres on his request for greater clarity about the allegations.
He has argued that he should be given the full details of the claims against him before being expected to participate further in the inquiry.
“I should be provided with full details of the allegations against me so that I can participate in the inquiry,” he said in his response, as quoted by NDTV.
His questioning of the NCCIA’s role also highlights the distinction between Pakistan’s cybercrime authorities and cricket’s own anti-corruption framework.
Rizwan’s position, as reported by NDTV, is that allegations connected to an active international cricketer should have been reported to the ICC ACU. The NCCIA, meanwhile, has been examining matters connected to the wider investigation.
What happens next?
The next stage of the matter will depend on the findings of the ongoing investigation.
The NCCIA is expected to continue examining digital evidence and financial information before submitting its findings to the relevant authorities. The PCB is also expected to consider the outcome of the investigation before deciding whether any disciplinary action is warranted.
For Rizwan, the immediate issue is the inquiry into the allegations and his challenge to the basis on which he was summoned.
It is important to distinguish the allegations from established findings. Neither the online gambling claims nor the reported scrutiny of financial transactions amounts to a finding of wrongdoing against Rizwan at this stage.
The Lahore High Court’s dismissal of his petition allows the NCCIA process to continue, while Rizwan’s written response records his objections and request for details of the allegations.
With the investigation still underway, the Pakistan Cricket Board and the relevant authorities are yet to announce any final conclusion regarding Rizwan’s role in the matter.