Rizwan Asks NCCIA to Return His Phone and Explain the Inquiry

Pakistan wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan has written to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), asking it to give back his mobile phone and tell him in writing what exactly it is investigating. The phone was taken from him in England on August 31, a day after Pakistan lost the second Test at Lord's. Rizwan says he was told it would be returned in three hours. Four weeks later, it is still with the agency.

The letter, first reported by ESPNcricinfo on Monday, comes nearly two weeks after the Lahore High Court rejected Rizwan's petition against the agency. Rizwan says he has followed the court's order, and now he wants the NCCIA to do the same.

What Rizwan Wrote in His Letter

According to reports, Rizwan told the agency that he still does not know the nature of the inquiry against him. He asked the NCCIA to name, in writing, the exact incident it is looking into. He also asked it to tell him when he has to appear before its officers.

The letter says the NCCIA has not contacted him since the court ruling to arrange anything, including the return of his phone. Rizwan also pointed out that he handed over his phone and its password in the UK even though he had no legal duty to do so. He says this shows he has been cooperating from the start, and he wants the agency to treat him in the same way.

This is not his first letter. Around September 15, Rizwan sent a written reply to the agency by courier. In that reply, according to Geo News, he asked why he had been called and which disciplinary rule he was accused of breaking.

What the Lahore High Court Said

Rizwan filed a petition in the Lahore High Court on September 16. His lawyer, Qazi Umair Ali, argued that the NCCIA had no power to question him about claims of online betting in cricket. He said the proper body for such matters is the International Cricket Council's Anti Corruption Unit, and that no case about Rizwan had been sent to it.

The petition also said Rizwan was called to the lobby of the team hotel in England at around 1 am, where an officer questioned him and took his phone without any formal notice. The lawyer told the court that keeping the phone for so long showed bad faith by the agency.

Chief Justice Aalia Neelum heard the case on September 17 and dismissed the petition. She noted that Rizwan had already appeared before the NCCIA on September 10 and asked why he had come to court now. The court told Rizwan to cooperate with the agency and answer its notices. At the same time, it ordered the NCCIA not to cause him "harassment or unnecessary inconvenience". It also said Rizwan could go to the proper court to get back items that had not been returned, mainly his phone.

In the written judgment, a government lawyer said the case falls under Section 14 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, which deals with gaining an unlawful financial benefit through electronic means.

How the Case Started

The trouble began during Pakistan's tour of England. Pakistan lost the first two Tests of the three match series, and the Lord's defeat was by 194 runs. After that loss, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sent seven players home: Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad.

Soon after, reports said the PCB had taken the phones of Rizwan and Imam and passed them to the authorities. The NCCIA then sent notices to both players. Media reports, quoting sources, say the inquiry is about alleged leaks from the dressing room and possible suspicious money transactions before and after the England series. Their bank accounts are also said to be under review. The NCCIA has not made any official statement, and no wrongdoing has been proven against either player.

Both players were questioned at the NCCIA office in Lahore. Their phones were later unlocked and sent to a forensic lab. The two cricketers chose different paths after that. Imam filled in the agency's questionnaire, while Rizwan hired lawyers and challenged the agency's power in court.

What Happens Next

The PCB has said it will wait for the NCCIA's findings before deciding on any disciplinary action. Meanwhile, according to sources, both players have been declared ineligible for the President's Trophy, reportedly because they did not submit the required fitness test results to their departmental teams. Rizwan was due to play for Sui Southern Gas Company.

Some social media posts over the weekend, quoting unnamed NCCIA sources, claimed Rizwan was not cooperating. These claims have not been confirmed, and Rizwan's letter says the opposite. Reports also say the PCB turned down his request to speak about the matter in public.

For now, the next step is up to the agency. It must decide whether to tell Rizwan in writing what he is accused of and when to appear, and whether to return his phone. If it does not, the court ruling allows Rizwan to go to the proper court for his phone. For Pakistan cricket fans, the case has added another worry to a very bad Test season, and it is still not clear when the matter will end.