Mohammad Rizwan Was Asked to Hand Over His Phone For Pakistan’s Sake

Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan was reportedly asked to hand over his mobile phone during a late-night meeting in England, after which the device was sent to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in Lahore and has yet to be returned.

According to the report, Rizwan was called from his hotel room to the lobby at around 1:30 AM, where an official from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and another unidentified person were waiting for him.

He was questioned about online betting companies and gambling before being asked to hand over his phone.

Mohammad Rizwan reportedly refused several times and asked why his phone was being taken and what allegations had been made against him.

After repeated requests, he was told to hand over the device “for Pakistan’s sake,” after which he agreed.

He was assured that the phone would be returned within a few hours. However, Rizwan was scheduled to return to Pakistan the following day and raised concerns about traveling without it.

He repeatedly approached the team manager about the phone but did not receive a satisfactory response.

It was later learned that the device had been sent to the NCCIA in Lahore, where it reportedly remains.

People close to Rizwan said he has no objection to an investigation but has concerns about how the process was handled. They questioned why no written inspection report, reason for taking the phone, or receipt for the device was provided.

Questions have also been raised over the authority under which the phone was taken.

If the matter was being handled under the International Cricket Council (ICC) Anti-Corruption Code, questions were raised over why Rizwan was not given a written request for the device. If the ICC code was not used, clarification has been sought over what authority was used to take possession of the phone.

Concerns were also raised over why the device was taken out of the United Kingdom and kept for weeks despite assurances that it would be returned within a few hours.

The report also questioned whether London’s Metropolitan Police Service or the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) was informed when the phone was taken and whether any British authority or court had issued a warrant, court application, or other legal approval.

Questions were also raised over when the ICC was informed if the matter involved alleged corruption linked to an international match.

The ICC has not issued any statement on the matter so far.

Mohammad Rizwan is also reportedly seeking clarification over questions related to his visits to a mosque.

He wants to know the specific day, practice session, meeting, or team activity he allegedly missed and how it amounted to a breach of discipline or security.

Questions have also been raised over why the same rules were not being applied to two former players if a serious investigation involving betting platforms was underway.

Mohammad Rizwan is reportedly waiting for written answers to these questions, which have not yet been provided by the PCB, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the ICC, or British police.

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