Mohammad Rizwan breaks silence on NCCIA probe, says he is waiting for inquiry to end

Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan's senior wicketkeeper-batter, has publicly addressed the ongoing National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) inquiry for the first time, stating that he is simply waiting for the process to conclude. The 34-year-old also hinted that he may speak at greater length to the media once the inquiry wraps up.

According to various reports, the NCCIA inquiry centres on allegations that information was leaked out of Pakistan's dressing room, with the matter also tied to the squad's recent England assignment. Both Rizwan and left-handed opener Imam-ul-Haq are named in the case. A separate Geo News report indicated that investigators are reviewing the financial records of both players as part of a wider search for any possible wrongdoing.

Rizwan addressed the matter directly when speaking to Samaa.TV, making clear his current stance on the proceedings.

"I am fully cooperating with the investigation. I am waiting for the investigation to be completed," he said.

What has the NCCIA investigation involved so far?

Investigators have been conducting a detailed examination of the mobile phone data belonging to both Rizwan and Imam. The two players travelled to Lahore and appeared before NCCIA officials, where they were questioned for roughly two hours. The session focused on the alleged dressing-room leaks and on specific issues that arose during the England tour.

After Pakistan lost the second Test at Lord's, the PCB recalled seven players, including Rizwan and Imam, from the touring party. The board subsequently issued a show-cause notice to the selection committee, asking it to explain why both players had been picked for Pakistan's Test assignments in the West Indies and England.

"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," said Mohsin Naqvi reflecting on squad shuffle.

How did Rizwan and Pakistan fare before the probe came to light?

Rizwan's batting form had been a concern across both tours that preceded the inquiry. In the two-Test series in the West Indies, he accumulated just 41 runs, with 18 in the second Test standing as his highest score. His returns in the first two Tests against England were similarly lean, amounting to 61 runs across four innings.

The dip was particularly striking given that Rizwan had been Pakistan's leading run-scorer in Test cricket since January 2024 before the West Indies tour began, making the recent slump a sharp contrast to his established record.

Pakistan's England tour ended in a 0-3 series defeat. The Babar Azam-led side lost the opening Test at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs, then fell by 194 runs at Lord's and by eight wickets at Edgbaston. Those results have left Pakistan at the foot of the World Test Championship standings.