Pakistan’s wicketkeeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan has been caught in allegations of fixing. The allegations against him are being investigated. The court has refused to stop the investigation. His phone has been confiscated and the exact reason has not been made clear. Neither has any written notice been given. After the end of the Lord’s Test on 30 August, Rizwan was woken up in his London hotel room at around 1 am. PCB’s anti-corruption officer Colonel Akhtar asked him to come down and also gave him special instructions to bring his handset.
At midnight, a member of Pakistan’s investigating agency FIA was also present there. When Rizwan came down, a team official introduced him to the FIA official and advised him to cooperate. Rizwan was asked several questions related to betting and online gambling and his phone was confiscated despite his repeated protests. They were not told what charges they were facing, what incident was being investigated, what they were suspected of doing, or under what authority their phone was being seized.
What did Rizwan tell the court
Rizwan wrote in his appeal in the court, ‘Immediately after the Lord’s Test match between England and Pakistan from August 27 to August 30, Rizwan was called at 1 o’clock in the night to the lobby of the hotel where the entire team was staying. There, an official from some government agency was reportedly present. He was not told anything about this, but the officer interrogated him and confiscated his phone without explaining any reason. Rizwan had handed over his phone on the assurance that the device would be thoroughly checked and returned to him within the next 3 hours. Despite assurances, the phone has not been returned till date. The phone is now in the possession of the NCCIA, which is investigating his case.
Officials threatened Rizwan
In the petition filed in Lahore High Court, Rizwan has alleged threats, blackmail and harassment. He wrote, “Seizing the phone without legal authority and retaining it indefinitely, issuing vague notices without mentioning the offense or the provision violated, giving irrelevant questionnaires, refusing to disclose the complaint or its contents, show that the impugned notice and the impugned investigation are not genuine exercise of statutory power, but a specious and malicious attempt to harass, intimidate and blackmail the petitioner.”
Rizwan stopped from talking to media
PCB has stopped Rizwan from talking to the media twice. According to a source, Rizwan says that he is not holding any complaint against any individual, PCB, FIA, NCCIA or Pakistan. He also claims that there is no evidence of corruption in his case. The PCB’s recent statement said, ‘PCB handles such matters as per its standard procedures. The process is being conducted under PCB rules to ensure that all concerned are given due consideration. “At this stage, speculative reports and unconfirmed claims circulating on some platforms, especially those coming from hostile external sources, should not be considered credible.”
What did the court say?
After the phones were confiscated, Rizwan and his teammate Imam-ul-Haq were asked to return to Pakistan on the next available flight. On reaching Pakistan he was summoned to NCCI. He was asked to provide information related to his assets, bank accounts and other financial matters, but there was no talk of returning his mobile, which is now undergoing forensic investigation. The court said in this case that at this stage the court considers it appropriate to exercise caution and allow the competent agency to proceed with the investigation. The court also said that the summon notice is not an allegation of any wrongdoing. Rather, it is a procedural process of gathering information. Rejecting Rizwan’s plea, the court warned NCCIA not to cause any trouble or unnecessary inconvenience to Rizwan and directed the agency to conduct the investigation completely as per the law.
Will career end?
Rizwan has represented his country in 256 international matches including 47 Tests, 103 ODIs and 106 T20 matches. He is expressing his views openly and wants to be relieved of the allegations. The situation of Imam ul Haq is also similar. Rizwan has not been allowed to play in the President’s Trophy Grade 1 first-class tournament, in which most of the players who have returned from the UK tour are taking part. He was made Vice-Captain of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited. His supporters say that he cannot be stopped from earning his livelihood, but at present very few people in Pakistan seem to support him. It will be difficult for 34 year old Rizwan to return from here. Because, by appealing to the ICC, he has spoiled relations with the cricket board. However, the 30-year-old Imam will have a chance to make a comeback. He has maintained silence in the entire matter and is fully cooperating in the investigation.