NCCI questions Rizwan and Imam; mystery deepens in Pakistan cricket.

### Headline

**NCCIA Questions Rizwan and Imam; Mystery Deepens in Pakistan Cricket**

The tour of England seems to have once again thrown Pakistan cricket into turmoil. Alongside failures on the field, the team is now beset by various off-field controversies. Amidst this, Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq have come into the spotlight.

The country's National Cyber ​​Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has questioned these two Pakistani cricketers. According to Cricinfo, they were questioned in Lahore yesterday, Thursday.

Rizwan and Imam were among the seven cricketers dropped from the Pakistan squad following the defeat in the second Test at Lord's. Both had been summoned by the NCCIA. Cricinfo reports that at least one of them spent several hours at the agency's office.

However, the exact reason for questioning Rizwan and Imam remains unclear. It has also not been confirmed whether the matter is linked to the ongoing internal investigation by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Earlier this week, the PCB announced the launch of an internal investigation to examine media reports regarding discipline and conduct. At that time, however, no cricketers were named. The board stated that the investigation would be conducted in accordance with its regulations.

Cricinfo further reported that the NCCIA handed a questionnaire to at least one cricketer, asking for responses to be submitted to the agency next week.

### Major Setback on England Tour

Pakistan's tour of England began with a massive failure. They lost the first Test at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs. Subsequently, they suffered a heavy defeat by 194 runs in the second Test at Lord's.

Major changes were made to the squad immediately after the Lord's Test. In addition to dropping seven cricketers, head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were removed from their roles.

Seven new cricketers were sent to England to replace them. Five of these players had not yet made their international debuts. Three of those five went on to make their debuts in the final Test of the series at Edgbaston. ### Rizwan Struggling with the Bat

Rizwan was having a dismal run with the bat during the England tour. In the four innings across the first two Tests, he scored 12, 41, 7, and 1 runs.

He had also failed to play any substantial innings in the two Tests during the preceding West Indies tour. However, Rizwan did fulfill his duties behind the stumps effectively. Notably, prior to the West Indies series, he had been Pakistan's highest run-scorer in Test cricket since January 2024.

### Questions Surround Imam's Injury

The situation regarding Imam-ul-Haq is somewhat different. A Grade-1 muscle injury in his left leg was detected after the first day's play at the Lord's Test. Consequently, he could not take the field during either of Pakistan's two innings.

However, on the morning of the final day of the Test, Imam attempted some light batting practice before the match. He encountered physical discomfort during that session as well.

Aqib Javed, the PCB's chief selector and director of the high-performance department, publicly raised questions about the incident, stating that the matter would be investigated.

### PCB Sought Explanations from Selectors

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi did not cite poor performance alone as the reason for dropping so many players from the squad. He indicated that factors beyond performance were also taken into account when making the decision.

In Naqvi's words, **"We have held discussions to identify the reasons behind this. There are issues beyond just performance involved. We will get to the bottom of the matter."**

Questions had also been raised regarding the inclusion of Rizwan and Imam in the squads for the West Indies and England tours. Following the Lord's Test, the PCB issued a notice to the selectors regarding this issue, demanding a written explanation for their inclusion and the selection process followed.

They were instructed to provide an explanation within 24 hours of receiving the notice. Shortly thereafter, Misbah-ul-Haq resigned from the selection panel.

All in all, the failure of the England tour has sparked a series of controversies. Now, the questioning of Rizwan and Imam by the NCCI has added a further layer of mystery to the unfolding events. The exact reason why they have been questioned is now the biggest question in Pakistan cricket.