The Lahore High Court has dismissed a petition filed by Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan challenging his summons by the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA). Following a brief hearing on Thursday, the court instructed the cricketer to cooperate with the ongoing inquiry and respond directly to the agency’s questions.
The petition was submitted in response to an official inquiry into alleged online sports betting and gambling in Pakistani cricket. While fellow batter Imam-ul-Haq complied by submitting a completed questionnaire to the NCCIA earlier this week, Rizwan opted for legal recourse.
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In his filing, Rizwan’s legal team characterized the allegations as vague, baseless, and an attempt to damage his reputation. The petition challenged the agency’s authority, maintaining that the International Cricket Council’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ICC ACU) holds exclusive jurisdiction over potential fixing or gambling matters in international cricket.
The petition also detailed an incident following Pakistan’s 194-run defeat at Lord’s, claiming an unidentified officer summoned Rizwan to his hotel lobby at 1:00 AM and seized his mobile phone without proper authorization. Despite promises that the device would be checked and returned within three hours, it remains in custody.
During the hearing, Chief Justice Aalia Neelum questioned the necessity of the petition, pointing out that Rizwan had already complied with the initial September 10 summons. Directing the defense counsel to address the agency directly, the court formally dismissed the plea.
The legal setback comes amid broader turmoil for Pakistani cricket. Following the Lord’s Test defeat, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sent seven players home—including Rizwan and Imam—and dismissed head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed. The PCB has since initiated its own internal disciplinary inquiry into conduct issues on tour, while selector Misbah-ul-Haq resigned shortly after. It is currently unconfirmed if Rizwan intends to appeal the High Court’s ruling or submit his answers to the NCCIA.
