Photo: Collected
An ongoing investigation on one side, uncertainty over a return to the field on the other — times are becoming steadily harder for Mohammad Rizwan. The Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman has still not got back the mobile phone seized in the investigation into allegations related to online betting and gambling. Not only that, he is not being allowed to play even in domestic cricket.
An investigation centring on Rizwan has been under way since he returned home after the England tour in the middle of this month. Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) is looking into the matter. However, no information has so far come to light that any offence has been proved against Rizwan.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not disclosed anything in detail on the matter either. In a statement, the board said an internal investigation is under way in line with regular procedure and the matters of all concerned are being duly considered.
Meanwhile, Rizwan had gone to court. Later, he also sought to know about the matter from the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti-Corruption Unit. Rizwan has raised the question of whether the ICC or the England and Wales Cricket Board were aware of the seizure of his mobile phone, its being taken from England to Pakistan and the forensic examination. However, he has not received any reply yet.
Tafazzul Rizvi, former head of the PCB’s legal department, thinks there is no scope to see the current stage of the investigation as a final charge. According to him, Rizwan has so far only been sent a notice seeking answers to some questions. It is not right to reach the conclusion that someone is guilty merely because he has been served a notice or asked to appear before an investigating agency.
By Rizvi’s explanation, as online betting and gambling are offences under Pakistani law, the investigating agency can serve notice on anyone for collecting information and questioning. There is scope to seek investigation-related information or materials even from a person who is outside the country.
Amid the investigation, Rizwan’s path back to the field is closed. He was not allowed to play in the President’s Trophy Grade-I first-class cricket. Although most of Pakistan’s cricketers have played in this competition after returning from the England tour, Rizwan has had to sit out. Although he was made vice-captain of Northern Gas Pipelines Limited, he did not get permission to take the field for the team.
Rizwan has been kept away not only from the field but also from the media. According to a Cricbuzz report, he was twice not allowed to speak to the media. Questions have also been raised about why he is not being allowed to speak even after giving an assurance that he would not make any complaint publicly about the investigation.
Another Pakistan cricketer, Imam-ul-Haq, has also been questioned over the same allegations. His mobile phone was taken too. However, Imam has not taken a public stand on this as Rizwan has.
