Mohammad Rizwan Submits Response To NCCIA Questionnaire Over Gambling Allegations

Mohammad Rizwan submits response to NCCIA questionnaire over gambling allegations (Dubai: ICC Champions Trophy Match Between India and Pakistan)

National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency: Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Rizwan has submitted his response to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency’s (NCCIA) questionnaire, while questioning the basis of the agency's inquiry against him.

In his response, the wicketkeeper-batter also requested details of the allegations against him and questioned why the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit was not tasked with probing the matter.

"As a cricketer, I have served the Pakistan team to the best of my ability," Rizwan stated in his response as quoted by Samaa TV.

The cricketer also stated that he had not been informed of which online gambling incident he was linked to and sought details of the allegations against him. The wicketkeeper-batter questioned on what basis the NCCIA was probing the matter, as he stated that the ICC ACU should have been conducting the investigation.

"Despite being an active cricketer, the allegations against me were not reported to the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit," he stated.

"It is incomprehensible why the NCCIA is conducting an inquiry into such a case," the cricketer said in his response.

Rizwan also demanded details of the allegations against him. "I should be provided with full details of the allegations against me so that I can participate in the inquiry," he said.

Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court has also dismissed Rizwan's petition, in which he argued that the NCCIA had not explained why it questioned him and that it lacked jurisdiction over the matter. The petition was dismissed shortly after the hearing on Thursday.

A few days ago, Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq appeared before the NCCIA in Lahore regarding alleged leaks of information from the team's dressing room. Imam completed his response to the questionnaire, while Rizwan chose to take the matter to court.

The fallout continues after Pakistan's poor performance in England, where they suffered their first-ever 0-3 defeat on English soil. The PCB sent Rizwan, Imam and five other cricketers home after the second Test defeat.

The PCB reportedly handed the two players' mobile phones to the relevant authorities following their removal, along with those of five other players from Pakistan's squad for the England Test series.

According to a report in Pakistan-based The News International, the NCCIA examined financial matters and suspected transactions involving the two players. Investigators probed the two players' financial dealings before and during the ongoing Test series, and their bank account details are also under scrutiny.

The PCB reportedly handed the two players' mobile phones to the relevant authorities following their removal, along with those of five other players from Pakistan's squad for the England Test series.

Rizwan and Imam were among the seven players released from the squad after the disastrous first two Test matches of the three-game series against England. Those seven players were sent home, and the Pakistan Cricket Board brought in seven other players to the squad and later began an “internal disciplinary inquiry.”

Article Source: IANS