Lahore High Court dismisses Mohammad Rizwan’s petition over cybercrime probe

The Lahore High Court has dismissed a legal challenge from Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Rizwan, clearing the way for a federal cybercrime investigation into online betting and dressing-room leaks to proceed.

On Thursday, Chief Justice Aalia Neelum rejected the wicketkeeper-batter’s petition, telling his legal representative that he must face the inquiry. "You should go and respond to the notice," the judge told Rizwan’s representative in court.

The ruling is a significant setback for Rizwan, who has spent the last week fighting the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). The agency is looking into allegations of online gambling in Pakistan cricket and claims that sensitive dressing-room information was leaked during the national team's recent 3-0 Test series defeat in England.

Why is Mohammad Rizwan being investigated

The probe stems from a highly turbulent tour of England, where Pakistan's poor performance on the pitch was quickly overshadowed by allegations of off-field misconduct. Both Rizwan and teammate Imam-ul-Haq became central figures in an NCCIA investigation regarding dressing-room leaks and suspicious online betting activities.

Rizwan’s petition argued that the cybercrime agency was overstepping its bounds. His legal team maintained that any investigation into cricket corruption belongs with the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti-Corruption Unit, rather than local cybercrime investigators. Rizwan also claimed the allegations against him were "concocted, illusionary and vague," designed purely to damage his reputation.

What happened in the hotel lobby

According to court filings, the federal investigation took a highly unusual turn during the tour. Rizwan’s lawyer, Qazi Umair Ali, told the court that his client was summoned to his hotel lobby at 1 am following the second Test at Lord’s.

There, an officer interrogated him without warning and demanded his mobile phone. The lawyer said Rizwan handed the device over only after being promised it would be returned within three hours. Weeks later, the phone remains in agency custody, a move Rizwan's team argued demonstrated bad faith.

While Rizwan fought the summons in court, Imam-ul-Haq chose to cooperate. Imam has already submitted answers to an extensive questionnaire about his personal, financial, and travel history.

What happens next for the players

The immediate future for both players now rests on digital forensics. The NCCIA is currently analysing the data on the seized phones. A source close to the inquiry said the agency expects to submit its forensic findings to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) next week.

How the board proceeds depends entirely on what those phones reveal. If the forensic analysis shows nothing unusual, both players will likely escape punishment. If it uncovers evidence of misconduct, the PCB is prepared to launch formal disciplinary proceedings.