Stories
Pakistan Crime Agency Mulls Action Against Mohammad Rizwan For 'Not Cooperating'
- •Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan is accused of not cooperating with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) regarding an investigation into his conduct during the recent Test tour of England.
- •The NCCIA is investigating alleged online betting and gambling links in Pakistan cricket and information leaks from the dressing room during the Test series.
- •Rizwan appeared before the agency earlier this month, but investigators claim he has been unavailable or requested to speak with his lawyer first for subsequent contact attempts.
- •The agency plans to contact Rizwan again and may issue a formal notice if he continues to not cooperate, as they wish to conduct a forensic examination of his phone in his presence.
- •Rizwan's camp states he received a WhatsApp notice and questioned the investigation's basis, maintaining he will cooperate once he receives suitable answers; the PCB denied his request to speak to the media about the investigation.
Key Questions Answered
The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency is investigating Mohammad Rizwan regarding alleged online betting and gambling links, as well as reports of information being leaked from the Pakistan dressing room during the Test series in England. Rizwan and fellow player Imam-ul-Haq were sent home mid-series following poor performances and a major squad overhaul.
Mohammad Rizwan challenged the NCCIA summons by filing a writ petition in the Lahore High Court through his lawyer, questioning the agency's jurisdiction and the lack of specific allegations. While his camp argued that he responded to WhatsApp notices with questions of his own, investigators stated that he delayed the probe by being unavailable or insisting on speaking to his lawyer first.
The Pakistan Cricket Board is led by Mohsin Naqvi, who simultaneously serves as the interior minister of Pakistan and holds administrative oversight over the NCCIA. Due to this dual role, Rizwan was reportedly denied permission by the PCB to speak publicly about the ongoing investigation.
