Mohammad Rizwan twice refused permission to discuss the PCB’s NCCIA probe.
LAHORE – Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan has twice sought permission from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to speak publicly about the ongoing inquiry against him, but the board rejected both requests, reports said on Monday.
Reports said that Rizwan wanted to clarify the controversy surrounding the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) probe, which included the seizure of his mobile phone after Pakistan’s Lord’s Test against England.
Pakistan’s former white-ball captain also wanted to answer the allegations against him and give details of the letter sent to the International Cricket Council (ICC) on the matter.
According to reports, Rizwan sought PCB’s approval under the terms of his central contract. However, the board rejected his request on both occasions.
Clause 4.1 of the Central Contract requires players to obtain prior approval before issuing public statements on matters covered by the contract. Sources say that Rizwan also referred to Clause 16 which deals with cooperation between PCB and players.
Reports said that Rizwan did not intend to press charges against the PCB or any other body. Instead, he wanted to present his version of events and explain the sequence of events to the public.
The matter comes at a time when the NCCIA is continuing its inquiry following the seizure of Rizwan’s mobile phone after the Lord’s Test in England.
During a hearing in the Lahore High Court last week, Rizwan’s lawyer Qazi Umeer Ali told Chief Justice Alia Neelam that the cricketer was called to the hotel lobby after the Test and questioned without issuing an official notice.
His lawyer said the call was taken after Rizwan was asked to return it within three hours. However, the device has reportedly not been returned yet.
Earlier, Rizwan had sought an explanation from the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) regarding the seizure of his phone.
He reportedly asked whether the ICC or the England and Wales Cricket Board’s anti-corruption authorities were aware of, or involved in, the operation.
Rizwan also sought clarification on whether the process of requesting, transferring and forensically examining his phone complied with the ICC’s anti-corruption code.
The post Muhammad Rizwan twice refused to allow PCB to discuss NCCIA investigation appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.
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