Mohammad Rizwan’s cellphone was taken at UK hotel: report

Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan was asked to hand over his mobile phone at around 1:30am at the team hotel in England after being questioned about online betting companies and gambling, a TV channel reported, citing sources.

According to the TV report, Rizwan was called from his hotel room to the lobby, where a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official and an unidentified person were present. He was questioned about betting-related matters and asked to hand over his phone.

The report said that Rizwan initially refused several times and asked why his mobile phone was being taken and what allegations he was facing. After repeated requests, he was told: “Pakistan’s ki khatir de den.”  Rizwan then agreed to hand it over.

He was reportedly assured that the phone would be returned within a few hours. However, as Rizwan was due to fly back to Pakistan the following day, he raised concerns about travelling without his phone and repeatedly asked the team manager about its return.

The report said that Rizwan was later informed that the phone had reached the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) office in Lahore. It has not yet been returned to him.

Quoting people close to Rizwan, it said that the cricketer had no objection to an investigation itself but had concerns about the procedure followed in taking and retaining his phone.