The owner of PSL franchise Rawalpindiz, Ahsan Tahir, has threatened to withdraw his team from the competition if Mohammad Rizwan is barred from cricket.
Tahir made the remarks amid reports of a possible comprehensive ban on the Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter.
He strongly opposed such a move and described it as unjust and unacceptable. Tahir also said his continued involvement in the PSL was closely linked to Rizwan’s presence in cricket.
Rizwan Central to Pindiz Ownership
Tahir said Rizwan was a major reason behind his decision to acquire the Rawalpindiz franchise.
According to the franchise owner, he purchased the team with Rizwan specifically in mind. Therefore, he said there would be little reason to remain involved if the cricketer could no longer play.
Moreover, Tahir described Rizwan as a mentor whose values and guidance had influenced his personal life.
He also said his business interests were already established in Pakistan and the United States. As a result, owning a cricket franchise was not a commercial necessity for him.
Rizwan Faces Ongoing NCCIA Inquiry
The development comes amid an ongoing inquiry by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) involving Rizwan.
The investigation followed the seizure of his mobile phone after the Lord’s Test in England.
During a Lahore High Court hearing, Rizwan’s lawyer Qazi Umair Ali said the cricketer was called to a hotel lobby after the Test. He claimed Rizwan was questioned without receiving a formal notice at that stage.
Ali also told the court that officials took Rizwan’s phone after assuring him it would be returned within three hours. The lawyer said the phone had not been returned.
LHC Rejects Rizwan’s Petition
The Lahore High Court later dismissed Rizwan’s petition challenging the NCCIA notices.
Chief Justice Aalia Neelum directed Rizwan to respond to the agency’s notice rather than seek court intervention at that stage.
Rizwan and fellow cricketer Imam-ul-Haq had already appeared before the NCCIA in Lahore earlier this month.
The inquiry reportedly concerns allegations involving online betting and gambling. Reports have also linked the investigation to alleged leaks of information from Pakistan’s dressing room during the England series.
However, no final finding or disciplinary determination against Rizwan or Imam-ul-Haq has been officially announced.
Rizwan’s Future Remains Uncertain
Rizwan and Imam were also among seven players released from Pakistan’s Test squad after the team’s defeat to England at Lord’s.
Meanwhile, the NCCIA inquiry remains ongoing. Rizwan has also reportedly sought guidance from the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit over the handling of his mobile phone.
For now, there is no officially announced comprehensive ban against Rizwan.
However, Tahir’s latest comments show that any decision affecting the cricketer could also have implications for Rawalpindiz’s future participation in the PSL.
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