Lahore, Sept 18:
The Pakistan Cricket Board is set to decide whether to initiate disciplinary action against senior cricketers Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq after the Lahore High Court dismissed Rizwan’s petition challenging notices issued by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
The court directed Rizwan to respond to the NCCIA notice. During the hearing, his lawyer argued that Rizwan had been called to a hotel lobby after the Lord’s Test against England, questioned and had his mobile phone taken away. The lawyer also questioned the jurisdiction of the cybercrime agency and argued that the matter should fall under the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit.
The NCCIA is conducting forensic examinations of mobile phones taken from Rizwan and Imam. The findings are expected to be submitted to the PCB next week, after which the board will decide on the next course of action. The investigation concerns allegations linked to online betting and gambling.
The PCB’s decision is expected to depend largely on the findings of the forensic examination. A source familiar with the developments said that if no objectionable material is found, the two players could receive relief. For now, the court’s dismissal of Rizwan’s petition has cleared the way for the NCCIA investigation to proceed .