LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday dismissed a petition filed by Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Rizwan against an inquiry being conducted by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). Chief Justice Aalia Neelum directed Rizwan to respond to the questions raised by the agency instead of seeking relief from the court.
Rizwan had approached the high court through his lawyer, Qazi Umair Ali, challenging an NCCIA notice issued to him. His counsel argued that the notice was vague and did not clearly explain the specific allegation or offence being investigated. He also questioned the agency’s jurisdiction in a matter reportedly connected with online betting and gambling in Pakistan cricket.
During Thursday’s hearing, the court noted that Rizwan had already appeared before the NCCIA on September 10 after receiving the agency’s summons. Chief Justice Aalia Neelum directed his lawyer to approach the agency and submit a response to the notice. The petition was subsequently not entertained by the court.
Rizwan’s lawyer maintained that the allegations against the cricketer were baseless and that the NCCIA had not identified any specific offence. The petition also argued that matters involving corruption allegations against international cricketers should fall within the jurisdiction of the International Cricket Council’s Anti-Corruption Unit. According to the petition, no such reference had been made to the ICC’s anti-corruption body.
The petition also raised concerns about Rizwan’s mobile phone. His lawyer told the court that after the Lord’s Test in England, Rizwan was allegedly called to a hotel lobby late at night and questioned by an official. The lawyer claimed that Rizwan’s phone was taken from him on the assurance that it would be returned within three hours, but that it had not been returned at the time of filing the petition.
The NCCIA inquiry followed a complaint submitted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) during Pakistan’s recent Test tour of England. Reports have linked the investigation to alleged dressing-room information leaks, while the agency’s notice to Rizwan referred to an inquiry involving online betting and gambling. The precise scope and findings of the investigation remain subject to the ongoing process.
Rizwan and fellow Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq appeared before the NCCIA in Lahore on September 10. The two players were questioned as part of the inquiry, and the agency issued questionnaires seeking their responses. Imam has already submitted his answers, while Rizwan has also reportedly submitted a response, according to his lawyer.
The PCB has separately launched an internal disciplinary inquiry following media reports concerning the players’ discipline and conduct during the England tour. Rizwan and Imam were among seven players sent back to Pakistan after the team suffered defeats in the first two Tests against England. They were subsequently barred from playing in the President’s Trophy Grade-I tournament while the inquiry continued.
The Lahore High Court’s decision does not determine whether Rizwan committed any offence. The NCCIA inquiry remains ongoing, and any allegations against the cricketer will have to be established through the relevant investigative and legal process. Rizwan’s next response to the agency and the findings of the investigation are expected to determine the next stage of the matter.
