The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has permitted former national team captain Mohammad Rizwan and opening batter Imamul Haq to represent their respective domestic departments in the upcoming sixth round of the President’s Trophy Grade-I first-class tournament scheduled to begin on Monday.
Return to Domestic First-Class Action
Rizwan represents Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), while Imam features for the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) in Pakistan’s domestic circuit. The decision from the board marks a quiet shift in stance, enabling both cricketers to return to competitive action in the ongoing eight-team tournament.
Neither player had been permitted to take the field earlier in the competition, which got underway last month. When Rizwan was initially kept out of the tournament, the absence was officially attributed to his failure to appear for a pre-season fitness assessment. However, it later emerged that the clearance had been withheld as a consequence of an inquiry initiated by federal authorities.
Ongoing Cybercrime Investigation
Both international cricketers have been under investigation by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) regarding alleged betting and gambling activities. The investigation was initiated following Pakistan’s defeat against England in the second Test match of their tour earlier this year.
As part of the inquiry, the NCCIA confiscated the mobile phones of both Rizwan and Imam. Subsequently, the duo, alongside five other members of the touring party in England, were withdrawn from selection ahead of the third and final Test match, an encounter that sealed a 3-0 series whitewash against the visiting side.
Legal Allegations and Administrative Silence
According to reports, Rizwan and Imam have been facing allegations under the provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The legal proceedings and scrutiny by the investigative agency had previously cast uncertainty over their immediate participation in Pakistan’s domestic structure.
Despite the development allowing both players to resume first-class cricket for SNGPL and OGDCL, the PCB has refrained from issuing any formal public statement regarding their clearance or the status of their participation. Information concerning the matter was confirmed through comments made on electronic media by SNGPL head coach and former national team captain Mohammad Hafeez.
