NCCIA Summons Imam and Rizwan as Mobile Phone Investigation Deepens

KARACHI: Pakistan cricketers Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Rizwan have been summoned by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) for questioning over information obtained from their mobile phones.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took custody of the players’ phones before handing them over to the relevant authorities. The agency subsequently issued notices to the two cricketers, while a third Pakistan player has also reportedly been summoned.

The NCCIA summons Imam and Rizwan as part of an ongoing inquiry in which officials are expected to examine information retrieved from their mobile devices. The reason for the PCB taking possession of the phones has not been disclosed, and the board has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.

PCB reviews Imam and Rizwan selections

The inquiry comes after the PCB made several changes to Pakistan’s Test setup following defeats in the first two matches of the ongoing series against England. After the loss at Lord’s, seven players were released from the squad, including Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Rizwan.

Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad were the other players released. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were also relieved of their respective roles, with Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke brought in as the new white-ball head coach and bowling coach.

The PCB has also been examining the selection process that led to Imam and Rizwan being included in Pakistan’s Test squads for the 2026 tours of the West Indies and England.

A notice issued by the board on August 31 sought a written explanation from a member of its Selection/Advisory Committee who took part in a selection meeting on June 2. The PCB said the committee member had recommended both players for the Test squad.

The board asked the committee member to explain the criteria used to assess Imam and Rizwan, along with the performance considerations and other factors behind the recommendations. It also sought details of the process that resulted in their final selection.

The PCB gave the committee member 24 hours to submit the response after receiving the notice, describing the matter as “urgent and of utmost importance”.

The NCCIA investigation and the PCB’s review of the selection process are separate matters, with further details expected as the inquiries progress.