Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq have faced questioning by Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in Lahore as scrutiny around the national team’s disastrous England tour intensifies.
The two batters appeared at the NCCIA’s Johar Town office on Thursday after receiving summons. Sources told Geo News that officials questioned them for about two hours about alleged dressing-room leaks during the England series.
Investigators also asked about their contacts and meetings during training sessions and matches in England. The agency is examining data from their mobile phones, while sources said a third Pakistan cricketer has also received a notice.
Reports have also raised questions about the pair’s financial dealings. However, those claims have not been independently confirmed by the NCCIA or the Pakistan Cricket Board. Any suggestion of financial wrongdoing therefore remains part of the reported investigation, not an established finding.
The questioning follows a major shake-up after Pakistan lost the first two Tests in England. The defeat at Lord’s, which gave England an unassailable 2-0 series lead, prompted the PCB to send seven players home. Rizwan and Imam were among them, while head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul also left the touring group.
The PCB has separately launched an internal disciplinary inquiry into reports concerning discipline and conduct during the tour. The board said it was reviewing the matter under its regulations and declined to comment further while the inquiry continues.
Imam’s injury has also attracted scrutiny. He suffered a low-grade left-calf strain during the Lord’s Test and did not bat in either innings. PCB sources had earlier indicated that the board could investigate the circumstances surrounding the injury.
Rizwan, meanwhile, endured a difficult series with the bat. He scored 12, 41, 7 and 1 in the first two Tests, although his wicketkeeping remained highly rated. He fell for one in Pakistan’s second innings at Lord’s, with Ollie Robinson taking his wicket.
The PCB has also questioned the selection of both players for the West Indies and England tours. On August 31, the board sought written explanations from members of the selection committee over the criteria and rationale behind recommending Rizwan and Imam.
