The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to decide whether to take disciplinary action against senior cricketers Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq following a major legal setback for the wicketkeeper-batter. On Thursday, the Lahore High Court dismissed Rizwan's petition challenging notices issued to him by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).

During the proceedings, Lahore High Court Chief Justice Aalia Neelum dismissed the petition after hearing arguments from both sides.

Advocate Qazi Umair Ali, representing Rizwan, informed the court that notices had been issued to his client.

"You should go and respond to the notice. On which date was the notice issued to you?" Chief Justice Neelum remarked.

The petitioner's lawyer replied that after the Lord's Test, the petitioner was called to the hotel lobby, interrogated without a notice, and his mobile phone was confiscated. He further stated that the petitioner handed over the mobile phone on the assurance that it would be returned after three hours; however, the phone has not been returned to the petitioner to date, which demonstrates bad faith.

In his legal challenge against the NCCIA summons, Rizwan's counsel questioned both the agency's jurisdiction and the fundamental nature of the investigation. He argued that the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit is the appropriate forum to protect cricketers from corruption, and the matter against the petitioner was not referred to the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit.

Meanwhile, federal investigators are finalising their probe. A reliable source aware of the developments revealed that the NCCIA is currently conducting forensic examinations on the mobile phones seized from both Rizwan and Imam, with plans to submit their official findings to the PCB next week.

"How the PCB decides to move against the two players will now depend on what findings the NCCIA submits to the PCB. If nothing out of the ordinary is found in the forensics examination they will probably get reprieves," the source said. (PTI)