Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq Face Cyber Crime Probe Over Alleged Pakistan Team Information Leak

Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq could find themselves in deeper trouble after Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) reportedly summoned the two cricketers as part of an investigation into an alleged leak of confidential team information.

The development comes amid Pakistan’s ongoing Test series against England and days after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made sweeping changes to the squad following the team’s defeat at Lord’s. Rizwan and Imam were among the players sent home after the second Test.

According to a report by Geo News, the NCCIA has issued notices to both players in connection with allegations that sensitive information from inside Pakistan’s dressing room was leaked during the England series. A third Pakistan cricketer has also reportedly received a notice from the cybercrime agency.

The matter has added another layer of uncertainty around a Pakistan team already dealing with major changes both on and off the field.

Rizwan and Imam reportedly asked to appear before NCCIA

The report claims that both Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq received notices on Monday asking them to appear at the NCCIA office in Lahore on Friday.

Their mobile phones have reportedly been taken into custody by the PCB and handed over to the relevant authorities as part of the investigation. According to sources quoted by Pakistani media, investigators could ask the players to unlock their phones so that the devices can be examined for information that may be relevant to the case.

At this stage, however, the exact nature of the information allegedly leaked from the team camp has not been publicly established.

There is also no official confirmation from the PCB that Rizwan or Imam personally leaked any confidential information. Being questioned or summoned as part of an investigation does not, by itself, establish wrongdoing.

That distinction is important as the investigation develops.

The PCB has so far remained tight-lipped about the reasons behind the seizure of the players’ phones and has not released a detailed statement regarding the NCCIA investigation.

A third Pakistan cricketer reportedly receives notice

The investigation may not be limited to Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq.

According to the same reports, a third Pakistan cricketer has also received a notice from the NCCIA. The player’s identity has not been officially confirmed in the available information.

The investigation is reportedly linked to allegations that information from inside Pakistan’s dressing room was leaked during the ongoing series against England.

Such information could potentially include internal team discussions, selection-related matters or other details concerning the team’s preparations. However, the precise content allegedly leaked has not been publicly disclosed.

Until the authorities or the PCB provide more details, several aspects of the case remain unclear.

The timing of the investigation is particularly notable because it comes immediately after Pakistan made a series of major changes to its Test squad.

Seven players and two coaches sent home

Following Pakistan’s defeat to England in the second Test at Lord’s, the PCB sent seven players and two members of the coaching staff back home.

Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq were among those players. They were joined by Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Owais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad.

Pakistan also released head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul from their responsibilities.

The PCB subsequently brought five uncapped players into the Test squad, while changes were also made to the coaching setup. Coaches from the white-ball side were brought in to fill the vacancies.

The changes immediately attracted attention because they represented a significant reshaping of Pakistan’s Test setup in the middle of the England series.

However, the alleged information leak investigation appears to be a separate issue from the cricketing decisions, even though the two developments have happened almost simultaneously.

PCB confirms internal disciplinary investigation

The PCB later confirmed that it had started an internal disciplinary investigation involving some players.

PCB media director Aamir Mir said on X that an internal inquiry had been initiated following media reports concerning discipline and behaviour within the team. He added that the matter was being reviewed internally.

The latest NCCIA development now potentially takes the issue beyond the PCB’s internal process.

A cybercrime investigation involving national-team players is a serious development, but it is important not to jump to conclusions before the authorities establish what actually happened.

For Rizwan and Imam, the immediate issue is likely to be answering questions from investigators and cooperating with the examination of their devices.

What happens next?

The next major development could come when Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq appear before the NCCIA in Lahore.

Investigators are expected to examine whether information was shared from the Pakistan team environment and, if so, how that information was obtained and circulated.

The reported examination of mobile phones could become an important part of the investigation. However, there has been no official confirmation about what investigators have found so far.

For Pakistan cricket, the episode comes at an uncomfortable time. The team is already under pressure following its results against England, while the sudden squad changes and coaching reshuffle have created plenty of discussion among supporters.

The addition of a cybercrime investigation only increases the scrutiny surrounding the players and the team’s internal functioning.

For now, Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq have reportedly been summoned for questioning, but no conclusion of wrongdoing has been established against either player.

The PCB’s eventual official statement could provide much-needed clarity about why the players’ phones were seized, what information is being investigated and whether any disciplinary action will follow.

Until then, the case remains an investigation rather than a confirmed finding — and the coming days could reveal whether the alleged dressing-room leak develops into a much bigger issue for Pakistan cricket.