Mohammad Rizwan Gets First Relief in PCB Inquiry: Cleared to Resume Domestic Cricket, to Lead SNGPL in Presidents Cup From October 19
Mohammad Rizwan has received his first relief in the Pakistan Cricket Board’s ongoing inquiry — the board has allowed the star wicketkeeper-batter to resume playing domestic cricket while the probe into alleged online betting and a dressing-room leak continues. Rizwan will lead SNGPL in the fifth round of the Presidents Cup starting today, October 19.
PCB’s email gives the green light
According to reports, Mohammad Hafeez — who serves as SNGPL’s director and coach — has confirmed that the franchise received an email from the PCB’s domestic cricket department clearing Rizwan to play. The confirmation removes the biggest obstacle standing between Rizwan and the playing field since the inquiry began. With the clearance in hand, SNGPL has named Rizwan as captain for the upcoming fifth-round fixtures of the Presidents Cup, Pakistan’s premier first-class domestic tournament.
What the inquiry is about
The relief does not mean the case is closed. Rizwan is facing an inquiry over allegations of online betting and a leak of dressing-room conversations, and the investigation is still open. His mobile phones remain with the investigators, and the PCB has not announced any final findings or verdict. Media reports stress that the domestic-cricket permission is a procedural allowance — not an acquittal — and the inquiry will run its full course before any decision on his international future.
What this means for Rizwan and the Presidents Cup
For Rizwan, the immediate impact is straightforward: he returns to competitive cricket from today, leading SNGPL in the Presidents Cup’s fifth round. For Pakistan’s domestic structure, his presence is a major draw for the tournament. Whether he returns to the national side, however, depends entirely on the outcome of the inquiry — a verdict the cricket board has yet to deliver.
Sources: Times of India, NDTV, Sportstar, Rediff, News9, ABP (all published October 18, 2026).
