LAHORE: Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has challenged summons issued to him by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), questioning the basis of the inquiry and the agency’s jurisdiction.
Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Aalia Neelum is scheduled to hear Rizwan’s petition on Thursday.
In his petition, Rizwan questioned why he had been summoned without being informed of any specific allegation against him.
According to the petition, the NCCIA notice refers to an ongoing inquiry into online betting and gambling. However, Rizwan maintained that the notice did not identify any specific allegation or explain what illegal activity he was allegedly involved in.
The cricketer further claimed that he repeatedly asked investigators about the allegations during his appearance before the agency but did not receive answers.
Rizwan has also questioned the basis on which the cybercrime agency was investigating an unspecified allegation against him.
He has asked the LHC to restrain the NCCIA from taking further action until a final decision is reached on his petition.
Rizwan and Imam questioned by NCCIA
Rizwan and Pakistan Test opener Imam-ul-Haq appeared before the NCCIA at its Johar Town office in Lahore earlier this month.
According to sources cited by Geo News, the two players were questioned for around two hours as part of an investigation involving information allegedly leaked from the Pakistan dressing room during the Test series against England.
They were also questioned about their contacts and meetings during practice sessions and matches in England.
The agency has been conducting forensic and technical examinations of the players’ mobile phones. Sources said investigators were also examining financial dealings and suspected transactions involving the two cricketers, including their bank accounts and transactions before and after the England series.
Messages, contacts and other digital information retrieved from the phones are also reportedly being reviewed.
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Information circulating on social media regarding alleged dressing-room leaks is said to be part of the inquiry.
The NCCIA has not officially announced any final findings against either player.
Rizwan later submitted a written response to the agency, seeking clarification about the reasons for his summons and asking why his mobile phone had not been returned.
According to sources, he also questioned the alleged disciplinary violation for which he had been summoned.
PCB inquiry into player selections
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had taken custody of the players’ mobile phones before handing them over to relevant authorities for examination, according to sources.
The PCB has previously declined to comment on the investigation, saying the matter remained under inquiry.
The NCCIA proceedings came amid changes to Pakistan’s Test squad following the team’s defeats against England.
Rizwan and Imam were among seven players released from the Test squad following the defeat at Lord’s. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were also removed.
The PCB subsequently sought written explanations from members of its selection committee over the inclusion of Rizwan and Imam in Pakistan’s Test squads for the 2026 tours of the West Indies and England.
According to a PCB notice issued on August 31, the selection committee had considered and recommended both players during a meeting on June 2. The board sought details regarding the selection criteria, performance considerations and other factors considered before their inclusion.
Meanwhile, the NCCIA inquiry into Rizwan and Imam remains ongoing, with forensic examinations of their mobile phones and scrutiny of financial transactions continuing, according to sources cited by Geo News.
