Lahore: Pakistan cricket’s turmoil has taken another dramatic turn, with reports claiming that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken the mobile phones of members of the national team into its custody ahead of the third and final Test against England at Edgbaston.
According to the report cited by NDTV Sports, the phones are expected to remain with the PCB until the conclusion of the Test. However, the board has not publicly identified which players were asked to surrender their devices or explained the reason for the reported move.
The development comes just days after Pakistan made sweeping changes to its Test squad and coaching staff following heavy defeats in the first two matches of the series.
PCB phone move raises questions
The reported phone confiscation has attracted attention because it goes beyond the normal restrictions placed on communication devices during international matches.
The ICC has strict regulations governing mobile phones and other communication devices inside the Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA). Players are generally prohibited from carrying or using mobile devices in the PMOA during an international match, subject to specific exceptions.
Those rules are primarily designed to protect the integrity of the game, prevent unauthorised communication and reduce the possibility of sensitive information being passed outside the restricted area.
However, the report concerning Pakistan goes further, claiming that the PCB itself has taken possession of players’ phones ahead of the match and intends to keep them until the Test is completed.
The PCB has not publicly stated that the move is connected to an anti-corruption investigation. Reports and social media speculation have raised questions about whether the development could be related to an internal inquiry, but there is currently no official confirmation of such a reason.
Pakistan cricket already facing major turmoil
The phone controversy comes at a particularly difficult time for Pakistan cricket.
Pakistan lost the opening Test against England by an innings and 103 runs before suffering another heavy defeat in the second Test at Lord’s. England won the second match by 194 runs, leaving Pakistan 2-0 down in the three-match series.
In response, the PCB made a major overhaul before the final Test.
Seven players were sent home from the tour: Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad.
The board also replaced head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul. Mike Hesson was brought in as red-ball head coach for the final Test, while Ashley Noffke replaced Gul as bowling coach.
The decision sparked considerable criticism from former Pakistan players and cricket figures, who questioned the timing and scale of the changes in the middle of a Test series.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain also criticised the manner in which Pakistan handled the changes, arguing that the team was being placed under additional pressure instead of being given stability before an important Test.
New-look Pakistan squad prepares for Edgbaston
Pakistan have brought in seven replacements for the final Test.
The incoming players are Saim Ayub, Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Saad Baig, Muhammad Randhawa, Razaullah and Muhammad Imran Jr..
Saim Ayub has already played eight Tests for Pakistan, while Abdullah Fazal has appeared in two. Arafat Minhas has represented Pakistan in three ODIs and four T20Is.
Saad Baig, a wicketkeeper-batter, was named Player of the Tournament in the 2025-26 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Muhammad Randhawa and Razaullah are yet to represent Pakistan internationally.
The reshuffle has therefore significantly altered the make-up of Pakistan’s squad just before a Test that the visitors need to win to avoid a 3-0 series defeat.
What is known about the phone investigation?
At present, relatively little is known.
The NDTV report says Pakistani media have claimed that the phones were taken into PCB custody and could remain there until the end of the Edgbaston Test. However, the identities of the players whose phones were taken have not been publicly disclosed. The PCB has also not issued a public explanation for the move.
A separate NDTV report said a Pakistani media report claimed the board was conducting an investigation but did not specify what was being investigated. That leaves the reason for the reported phone collection unclear.
It is therefore important not to conclude that the PCB is investigating match-fixing or corruption based solely on the phone reports.
The ICC’s anti-corruption framework does explain why communication devices are tightly controlled around international matches. The official PMOA rules prohibit players from carrying or using mobile devices in the designated area, with limited exceptions for authorised personnel and specific circumstances.
But those regulations do not, by themselves, confirm why the PCB has reportedly collected players’ personal phones before the third Test.
Third Test adds pressure on Pakistan
The final Test begins at Edgbaston in Birmingham on September 9with Pakistan attempting to prevent England from completing a 3-0 series sweep.
The match will be played under a new coaching set-up and with a substantially changed squad. The reported phone custody adds another layer of uncertainty to a tour that has already been dominated by selection controversies, coaching changes and questions over team management.
Pakistan’s challenge now extends beyond simply improving its cricket. The new-look squad must quickly build cohesion and focus on the final Test despite the disruption surrounding the team.
For Mike Hesson, the immediate priority will be to establish a balanced side capable of competing with England after two one-sided defeats. Hesson has also clarified that he was not involved in the decision to send Rizwan, Imam and Salman Ali Agha home, saying those decisions had already been made before he took charge.
PCB faces growing scrutiny
The reported phone move is likely to generate further questions about how the PCB is managing the England tour.
With no official explanation yet available, the exact purpose of taking the devices remains unclear. Any suggestion of an anti-corruption inquiry should therefore be treated as speculation until the PCB or another competent authority provides confirmation.
What is certain is that Pakistan are entering the third Test amid one of the most turbulent periods of the tour.
The side has already suffered two heavy defeats, lost several senior players and coaches, and faced criticism over the manner in which the changes were made. The reported phone custody now adds another unusual development to the story.
Pakistan’s immediate task is to put that off-field drama aside and produce a much stronger performance at Edgbaston. Whether the team can do so will become clearer when the third Test begins on September 9.