Rizwan’s curious case: Midnight summons, confiscated phone, and a probe shrouded in questions

Rizwan's Curious Case: Midnight Summons, Confiscated Phone, and a Probe Shrouded in Questions

Mohammad Rizwan is facing a Kafkaesque predicament, seemingly unaware of the specific charges against him or the authority behind them. His phone was confiscated without written notice, demand, allegation, charge, warrant, or receipt.

The Incident
Rizwan was woken up in his London hotel room around 1:00 AM on August 30, following the conclusion of the Lord’s Test. A PCB Anti-Corruption official (Col. Akhtar) instructed him to come downstairs with his handset. A member of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was present. Rizwan was confronted with questions regarding betting and online gambling before his phone was seized despite his resistance. He was not informed of the specific allegation, incident, or legal authority for the seizure.

In his appeal to the court, Rizwan stated:

“Immediately after the Lords Test Match held between England and Pakistan on 27.08.2026 to 30.08.2026, the Petitioner was summoned to the lobby of the hotel where the entire team was staying at 01:00 AM in the night. There, an officer purportedly from some government agency was present.

“Despite no notice with respect to the foregoing, the Petitioner was interrogated by the said officer and his mobile phone was confiscated from him without providing him with any reason or justification in respect thereof. He was also not informed of any order which authorized the confiscation of his phone.

“Needless to mention that the Petitioner (Rizwan) handed over his phone on the assurance that the device would be thoroughly checked and returned back to him within the next 3 hours. Despite the assurance, the phone has not been handed back to him till date.”

The phone is currently in the possession of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).

Allegations of Intimidation
In a petition to the Lahore High Court, Rizwan alleges intimidation, blackmail, and harassment. He claims the confiscation was done without lawful authority and that the vague notice and irrelevant questionnaire demonstrate a "colourable and mala fide attempt to harass, intimidate and blackmail the Petitioner."

Rizwan notes that the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) is the mandated body for investigating corruption in international cricket, yet no reference has been made to them. He argues that in the absence of a specific offence disclosed under the 2016 or 2025 Acts, the NCCIA’s assumption of jurisdiction is an abuse of process.

PCB Response and Court Ruling
The PCB has stated that an internal inquiry is underway in accordance with standard procedures, dismissing speculative reports as originating from "hostile external sources."

Following the impoundment, Rizwan and teammate Imam-ul-Haq were instructed to return to Pakistan. Upon arrival, Rizwan was summoned to the NCCIA and asked to provide information regarding his assets, bank accounts, and financial matters. His phone remains under forensic assessment.

The Lahore High Court did not grant Rizwan relief, stating:

“At this stage, the Court considers it appropriate to exercise caution and permit the competent agency to proceed with the inquiry.”

The court clarified that a call-up notice is a procedural mechanism for gathering information, not an accusation of wrongdoing. It cautioned the NCCIA to conduct the inquiry strictly in accordance with the law and avoid harassment.

Expert Opinion
Taffazul Rizvi, former legal head of the PCB, weighed in on the case:

“At the moment, only a notice has been issued to Rizwan, and he has been required to answer a questionnaire… Merely the issuance of a notice or being asked to appear before the agency is not an accusation or admission of any wrongdoing. It is only meant to gather information. At the moment, no adverse inference should be drawn against Rizwan, and his repute and integrity should not be called into question.”

Rizvi explained that since online betting and gambling are criminal offences in Pakistan, the Cybercrime Investigation Agency is authorized to require the presence of any citizen for interviews and information gathering. He also noted that the ICC Anti-Corruption Code (Article 1.11) requires participants to comply with applicable local laws.

Current Status
Rizwan has been disallowed by the PCB to speak to the media twice. He maintains he is not making a complaint against any individual or agency but is seeking clarity on the process. He remains willing to cooperate with a proper investigation.

The situation draws parallels to the 2010 Lord’s Test scandal, though no sting operation is involved this time. Rizvi suggested that the true picture will only emerge after the inquiry concludes.

Rizwan, a former captain with 256 international caps, has been disallowed from playing in the President’s Trophy Grade 1 First Class tournament, where most UK tour returnees are participating. He was named vice-captain of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited, but supporters argue he cannot be stopped from earning his livelihood.