LHC dismisses Mohammad Rizwan's plea against NCCIA betting probe: 'respond to the notice'

The Lahore High Court has dismissed Mohammad Rizwan's petition against the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), so the agency's online betting and gambling inquiry can continue with the Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter in it. Chief Justice Aalia Neelum heard the case on Thursday, 17 September, and told him to go to the agency and answer its notice, Geo News reports.

What the court said

According to Geo News, the chief justice asked Rizwan's counsel why he had come to court when he had already complied with a summons on 10 September, and told him to "go there, tell them and respond to the notice". She also objected that the lawyer had not brought the case file to court.

Aaj News reports that the court directed Rizwan to answer the questions the NCCIA had put to him before it dismissed the petition.

What Rizwan argued

His lawyer, Qazi Umair Ali, told the court that, as reported by Geo News and Aaj:

1. the allegations against Rizwan are false and baseless;
2. he was questioned in a hotel lobby after the Lord's Test without notice in advance;
3. his mobile phone was taken with an assurance it would be back in three hours, and it has not been returned;
4. corruption allegations in cricket belong with the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit, and no matter has been referred to it;
5. the NCCIA never named a specific allegation against him.

The court did not accept these grounds as a reason to stop the inquiry.

What the NCCIA is investigating

The agency's inquiry, as described by Geo News and The News, covers:

• information allegedly leaked from Pakistan's dressing room during the Test series in England;
• players' bank transactions before and after the tour;
• forensic checks on players' phones, messages and social media.

Aaj reports that the NCCIA sent questionnaires to Rizwan and Test opener Imam-ul-Haq, with answers due by 15 September, and that Imam has already submitted his. No findings have been announced against either player.

What happens next

Rizwan now has to respond to the NCCIA's questions at the agency. The dismissal does not mean any wrongdoing has been found: it only means the court would not halt the inquiry at this stage. He can still pursue the return of his phone with the agency.

The wider fallout

Pakistan lost all three Tests in England, head coach Aaqib Javed has had to deny resignation reports, and Babar Azam has gone back to first-class cricket in Peshawar. The PCB has separately asked selectors for written explanations about squad picks for the West Indies and England tours, The News reports. Follow Pakistan's fixtures in our cricket match centre.

Betting apps: what fans should know

The NCCIA is the federal agency that takes cyber crime complaints, and betting and gambling apps are widely pushed to Pakistani users on social media. If you get messages promoting such apps, do not share your CNIC or SIM details. You can check whether any SIM has been issued on your CNIC without your knowledge with our guide to the 668 SMS and cnic.sims.pk.