New Delhi: Senior Pakistan cricketers and Imam ul Haq have been questioned for nearly four hours as the country’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) started an inquiry into alleged dressing-room leaks after a complaint from the PCB.
The ongoing drama comes amid Pakistan team’s poor performance on its Test tour of England, where seven players, including Rizwan and Imam, and two members of the support staff were sent back to the country due to disciplinary issues.
After the unprecedented move, the team’s security manager has already handed over the phones of the two senior cricketers to the agency. Mohsin Naqvi, who is chairman of the PCB, is also the country’s interior minister, and the NCCIA comes under his ministry.
According to PTI, a spokesperson for the PCB has confirmed that the NCCIA are investigating the alleged dressing-room leaks but said that no further comment would be made on the issue as it is an ongoing process.
This is the first time that the board has lodged a complaint with a cyber agency against national team players. Both Rizwan and Imam have requested more time to submit their written responses to the NCCIA queries.
“The inquiry will focus on alleged leaks from the dressing room during the England series,” a source said as quoted by PTI.
The board has already announced that it has “started an internal disciplinary inquiry after media reports concerning discipline and conduct, which are currently being reviewed internally”. According to a PTI source, both players have told the NCCIA it could carry out a forensic examination of their devices.
Pakistan 184/3 in 2nd innings
After bowling England out for 453, Pakistan again got off to a horrific start in the second innings as Ollie Robinson dismissed Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique in the opening over. But Azan Awais and Shan Masood finally forged Pakistan’s first century stand of the series on their sixth attempt.
The pair struggled a bit initially, but once they settled in, the runs started to flow. Both completed their respective half-centuries and looked comfortable against England’s pacers. Root then turned to the spinner, and Dan Lawrence removed Awais for 59, striking on his second delivery. Skipper Babar Azam walked in to bat and has looked positive so far, stitching an unbeaten 59-run stand with Masood. Pakistan reached 184/3 at lunch on Day, trailing by 136 runs.