Mohammad Rizwan was stopped from featuring in the President’s Trophy Grade-I 2026-27 due to an ongoing inquiry into alleged online betting and gambling activities, rather than any issue related to his fitness test.
The wicketkeeper-batter had joined the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) squad in Islamabad after being dropped from Pakistan’s Test squad midway through the series against England.
In Shan Masood’s absence, Rizwan was also expected to lead SNGPL in the ongoing eight-team first-class tournament.
He took part in the team’s practice session and attended a team meeting before the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) contacted SNGPL later the same day and instructed the department to send him back due to the ongoing inquiry.
Following the directive, SNGPL management informed Rizwan of the decision, after which he left for Lahore.
The department was also prepared to conduct his fitness test before receiving the PCB’s instructions. Other Pakistan players who returned from England after the Test series, however, did not undergo similar fitness tests before joining their respective departments.
After arriving in Lahore, Rizwan requested permission from the PCB to train at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), but his request was turned down.
The 34-year-old is currently training in his hometown of Peshawar.
n
The development comes a day after the Lahore High Court (LHC) directed the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) not to harass or unnecessarily trouble Rizwan while allowing the inquiry against him to continue.
LHC Chief Justice Aalia Neelum issued the written order while dismissing Rizwan’s petition challenging the NCCIA inquiry.
According to the court order, the agency is investigating matters related to alleged online betting and gambling involving the Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter.
During the hearing, the government lawyer informed the court that the matter falls under Section 14 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, which deals with obtaining an unlawful financial benefit.
The post Here’s Why Mohammad Rizwan Was Not Allowed to Play President’s Trophy appeared first on ProPakistani.
