The Pakistan Cricket Board has started an internal disciplinary review after media reports raised questions about how national team players behaved during their current tour of England. The move follows claims that the PCB obtained data from mobile phones belonging to former Test players Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Rizwan. The board has not named any specific individuals or confirmed the exact allegations being looked into. PCB media director and adviser to chairman Mohsin Naqvi, Amir Mir, confirmed the inquiry was underway. He said the board is handling the matter according to its own rules and regulations. Mir added that all concerned parties will be given fair consideration during the investigation process.
The PCB has not shared more details while the inquiry is ongoing, according to samaa.tv. According to reports, phones belonging to Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Rizwan were taken by the team’s security officer after Pakistan lost the second Test at Lord’s. The devices were returned hours later after their data was reportedly copied for further review. Other media outlets have also reported similar information, but the PCB has not verified these claims.
Mir warned against treating unverified social media posts as facts. He said such speculation, especially from outside sources, should not be seen as reliable information. The PCB has decided not to comment further until the internal process is complete. The board also did not reveal what kind of disciplinary issues are under review or which players are involved.
This development comes amid a difficult period for Pakistan’s Test team in England. Pakistan lost both of the first two Tests against England by large margins. England won the first Test at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs before taking a 194-run lead in the second one at Lord’s. In response to the poor results, the PCB made major changes ahead of the final Test scheduled for Edgbaston. Seven players including Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Rizwan were removed from the squad mid-tour. Red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed was also replaced by Mike Hesson on an interim basis. Bowling coach Umar Gul was also removed from the team setup.
Imam-ul-Haq’s injury had already drawn attention before this latest report. The opener suffered a low-grade calf strain while fielding during the first day of the Lord’s Test. He did not bat in either innings as Pakistan were dismissed for 110 and 194. Aaqib Javed, a member of the national selection committee and PCB’s high-performance director, called for an inquiry into the circumstances. However, the PCB did not connect Imam’s injury to the current disciplinary inquiry.
Unverified reports suggest investigators are looking into players’ activities and contacts during their stay in London. Some sources have claimed that possible penalties such as fines or suspensions could be considered if wrongdoing is proven. The PCB has not confirmed these claims or specified what punishment might follow. The board said that the inquiry will proceed according to its own procedures and that all relevant evidence will be reviewed before any decision is made. Any future disciplinary actions are expected only after the internal process concludes.
The inquiry adds to growing scrutiny over Pakistan’s Test team during this England tour. With England leading the series 2-0, the PCB has already made significant changes to its Test setup. The latest disciplinary review could bring further attention if it finds any violations. Until then, the PCB has urged the public to rely only on official communications from the board.
IMAGE: 1 August 2025 Imam ul Haq Dave Morton CC0
This article passed automated originality and source-verification checks before publishing.