KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has cleared former national team captain Mohammad Rizwan to participate in domestic cricket, ARY News reported, citing sources.
According to the sources, Rizwan will represent Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) in the President’s Trophy, which begins on Monday.
The clearance comes as Rizwan remains linked to an inquiry by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) over allegations involving online betting, gambling and the alleged leaking of team information.
Rizwan Appeared Before NCCIA in October
Rizwan appeared before the NCCIA in October in connection with allegations related to the Pakistan team’s Test series in England earlier this year.
He spent more than three and a half hours at the agency’s office, where four NCCIA officials questioned him. Neither Rizwan nor agency officials commented on the inquiry after he left.
The 34-year-old cricketer had received a notice from the NCCIA under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
When reporters asked about the questioning and the conduct of the officials, Rizwan responded with a smile: “I am deaf (in this connection), the conduct (of NCCIA officials) was good. I am feeling hungry; so let me go.”
He then left the premises without providing further details.
Questions Remain Over Rizwan’s Mobile Phone
The NCCIA had reportedly confiscated Rizwan’s mobile phone in England on August 30 after concerns about information stored on the device.
According to the report, the agency had promised to return the phone within three hours. However, it had not returned it before summoning Rizwan for questioning.
The report also said investigators had called Rizwan in for facial recognition, which was required for the phone’s forensic examination.
It remains unclear whether the NCCIA has returned his phone or plans to summon him again.
The PCB’s clearance allows Rizwan to resume domestic cricket, while the status of the agency’s inquiry remains unclear.
