Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has sent a formal letter to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), calling on the body to provide written clarity on the investigation in which he is named and to facilitate the return of his mobile phone. The device has remained with the agency since August 31, nearly four weeks after it was first taken from him.
As reported by Cricinfo, Rizwan surrendered the phone in England on August 31, one day after Pakistan’s second Test defeat at Lord’s. He had no legal obligation to hand it over but did so after investigators told him it would be returned within three hours. That commitment was not honoured, and the phone has not been given back to him since.
The inquiry centres on Rizwan and left-handed batter Imam-ul-Haq and surfaced in the immediate aftermath of that Lord’s defeat. Both players were recalled to Pakistan shortly afterwards. The two men responded to the NCCIA proceedings differently: Imam completed a questionnaire the agency provided, while Rizwan engaged legal counsel and contested whether the NCCIA held jurisdiction over the matter.
What did the Lahore High Court decide?
The Lahore High Court dismissed Rizwan’s jurisdictional challenge roughly two weeks before his latest letter was sent. The court ruled against his bid to contest the NCCIA’s authority and directed him to cooperate with the ongoing inquiry.
The judgment also placed obligations on the agency itself. The court instructed the NCCIA to refrain from subjecting Rizwan to harassment or unnecessary inconvenience during the proceedings. Additionally, the court confirmed that Rizwan retained the right to approach the relevant court over any belongings that had not been returned to him, with his mobile phone being the principal item in question.
The ruling left open the question of when the phone would be handed back and did not publicly specify the incident under examination. Those unresolved matters have prompted Rizwan’s latest correspondence with the agency.
What has Rizwan now asked the NCCIA to do?
In the letter, Rizwan’s legal team has pointed out that the NCCIA made no contact with him after the High Court delivered its ruling to clarify how the investigation would proceed. His representatives have asked the agency to set out in writing the specific incident forming the basis of the inquiry and to confirm whether Rizwan is required to appear before investigators and, if so, when.
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The letter also highlights the cooperation Rizwan has already extended. He gave the NCCIA access to his phone on British soil and supplied the device’s password, steps his legal team argues demonstrate a clear willingness to assist. His representatives contend the agency must now reciprocate by explaining the scope of the proceedings and arranging for the phone’s return. Rizwan has requested that all future communication from the NCCIA be directed to him in writing.
His legal team has indicated that its current focus is on ensuring the investigation follows the framework the Lahore High Court has established, rather than pursuing any further challenge to the agency’s authority. The precise incident under examination has not been publicly confirmed in the available correspondence.
