‘Something very fishy’: Cricket analyst questions Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq’s probe by Pakistan cyber crime agency originally appeared on Cricket News.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq were questioned by Pakistan’s cybercrimes agency.
- Journalists have questioned why a cybercrime unit was involved rather than the ICC’s anti-corruption body.
- The exact nature of the investigation has not been disclosed by the PCB or the NCCIA.
Cricket analyst questions Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq’s probe by Pakistan cybercrime agency
If Pakistan’s on-field exploits have been bad, the drama surrounding them off the field has been so much worse. After a string of public meltdowns, conspiracy theories by former players and admonitions from the cricketing community, PCB has now launched a genuine cybercrime investigation against the duo of Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq.
The two were among the seven players sent home after the Lord’s Test. But while the debate until now was about whether sending them to Pakistan was the right decision, they have been summoned before the country’s National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency in Lahore. Rizwan and Haq appeared before investigators on Thursday, with at least one of them reportedly present for several hours.
Neither the PCB nor the NCCIA has clarified what the questioning concerned or whether it connects to the board’s own internal disciplinary inquiry announced earlier in the week. That inquiry was described only in general terms, with the board saying it was reviewing media reports concerning discipline and conduct.
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Why did cricket analysts question the involvement of a cybercrime agency?
According to Cricinfo, at least one of the players has been handed a questionnaire and told to return to the agency next week, suggesting the inquiry is the beginning of a longer process rather than a single closed-door session. However, it was the NCCIA’s involvement that caught the attention of journalist Vikrant Gupta.
He argued that a cybercrime unit was an odd venue for scrutiny of two contracted international cricketers. “Rizwan and Imam being investigated and quizzed by Pakistani cybercrime investigators means there is something very fishy going on with them and PCB. What exactly is the purview of cyber crime investigation,” he questioned.
Rizwan and Imam being investigated and quizzed by Pakistani Cyber Crime investigators means there is something very fishy going on with them and PCB. What exactly is the purview of cyber crime investigation? Had PCB alerted ICC Anti Corruption Unit if I understand what’s being…
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) September 11, 2026
To him, it seems really strange how two players who were supposedly dismissed on the basis of their performance are now suddenly embroiled in a cybercrime investigation. He also questioned if PCB even alerted the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit.
“Had PCB alerted the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit if I understand what’s being probed by Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency,” Gupta wrote.
The Indian cricket analyst’s logic makes sense because if the duo had been involved in match-fixing or any other act that challenges the integrity of the game, a domestic cybercrime agency that deals with hacking and fraud shouldn’t have been involved.
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Rizwan and Imam are facing scrutiny both on and off the field
The context around each player should also be considered before reaching any verdict. While Rizwan’s place had already come under pressure through poor form since the West Indies tour, he remained Pakistan’s best batter since January 2024.
On the other hand, Haq’s situation has been attributed to a mix of his very real injury after getting a grade-1 calf tear and his unwillingness to bat in the second innings of the Lord’s test. PCB chief selector Aaqib Javed had even publicly questioned the injury at the time and flagged the possibility of a separate inquiry into it.
Meanwhile, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has also hinted at something broader than pure cricketing failure behind the squad overhaul, without elaborating. “We have had a discussion to ascertain the reasons behind it. They include factors beyond performance, and we will get to the bottom of it,” Naqvi said.
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Lack of clarity remains a common element in Pakistan’s off-field controversies
The simple lack of clarity is the common factor in all these controversies, including Pakistan sending seven players home without informing captain Babar Azam and the ongoing investigation. PCB continues to offer no public explanation either to defend its position or to provide a reason for the investigation.
Naqvi’s own comments about “factors beyond performance” only make fans more suspicious about what is happening with the two batters, given that a specialised digital-crimes unit had to be involved instead of typical disciplinary processes. Any theory, however, remains speculation for now.
Whether the NCCIA’s involvement is about corruption, leaked information, or any other specific crime remains just a theory at this stage. What is clear is that Pakistan’s situation has moved from a chaotic squad reshuffle into a genuine criminal investigation, and until the PCB or the NCCIA offers a real explanation, theories will keep filling the vacuum they have left behind.
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