LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Alia Neelum on Thursday refused to hear a plea filed by cricketer Mohammad Rizwan, who has challenged an inquiry initiated against him by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).

Rizwan’s counsel, Qazi Umair Ali, appeared before the court today and contended that the NCCIA had unlawfully summoned the cricketer through a notice issued on Sept 8.

After receiving the notice, Rizwan and fellow cricketer Imamul Haq did appear before the NCCIA on Sept 10, but the former went on to challenged the inquiry and the agency’s notice in the LHC.

However, Justice Neelum refused to hear the petition on Thursday and directed Rizwan’s lawyer to submit a written response to the NCCIA notice first.

“Just go and respond to the notice,” she instructed the lawyer, refusing to entertain the petition at this stage.

Later, Rizwan’s lawyer said while speaking to the media outside the courtroom that a response to the agency had already been submitted.

In his plea, Rizwan criticised the NCCIA notice and the inquiry initiated by agency. According to the plea, the NCCIA had directed Rizwan to appear before it on Sept 10 in connection with allegations of online betting or gambling in Pakistan cricket.

He argued in his plea that the notice was vague, arbitrary and issued without legal jurisdiction.

The petition contended that online betting was not a scheduled offence under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 or the amendments made to the law in 2025, which rendered the probe a “fishing and roving expedition” intended to harass and malign Rizwan’s reputation.

Expressing apprehension over potential “coercive” measures, including his arrest or detention, Rizwan urged the court to set aside the notice, quash the inquiry, and restrain authorities from taking any “adverse” action against him.

The NCCIA inquiry was launched pursuant to a complaint lodged by the Mohsin Naqvi-led Pakis­tan Cricket Board (PCB) during the recent England series, which ended with a dismal 3-0 Test whitewash for the national side.

At the time, it was reported that the NCCIA’s probe pertained to alleged dressing-room leaks during the recent England series.

The PCB also announced on Sept 7, while the England series was ongoing, that it had “initiated an internal disciplinary inquiry following media reports concerning discipline and conduct, which are currently being reviewed internally”.

On Sept 11, Imam and Rizwan were also barred from playing in the President’s Trophy Grade-I domestic first-class tournament.

The two were also among the seven players who were called back home following Pakistan’s defeats in the first two Tests, leaving England with an unassailable lead in the three-match series.