Naqvi says Rizwan Imam cyber probe to conclude in days

Karachi, Nov 12 (PTI) The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) is expected to wrap up its investigations into Pakistan cricketers Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq and submit its findings in the next few days, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Thursday.

     Speaking to the media in Lahore, Naqvi confirmed that both players had been cleared to feature in domestic cricket even as the NCCIA inquiry remained underway.

     "I have spoken to the NCCIA and they just need a few more clarifications from Rizwan, after which they will submit their findings in a few days' time, although I can't give an exact deadline,” he said.

     The PCB chairman also said the new central contracts and the system governing players' contracts had been finalised and would be announced soon.

     "I think they are finalised or would be finalised by tomorrow to give out,” he added.

     The PCB has delayed announcing the central contracts by three months, with the previous contracts having expired on July 31 this year.

     Asked about reports of financial constraints facing the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Naqvi said the new franchise owners and the existing Multan franchise had been sold for substantial amounts, and their owners would have been aware of the financial realities before entering the league.

     "Whatever the owners of these new franchises know, they can't expect to make profits after a year or two and they must have done their feasibility report before joining the PSL,” he said.

     Naqvi added that any existing or new franchise owner wishing to sell their team at a profit was free to do so, subject to the league's rules and regulations.

     He also expressed satisfaction with the state of Pakistan cricket and said he had complete faith in the team handling cricket-related matters.

     "I am there to back them all the time and we are expecting much better results when the next batch of young players are ready in the next six months," he said.

     Naqvi further announced that the PCB had set January 31 as the deadline for opening the newly renovated, state-of-the-art National Cricket Academy in Lahore.

     "The good thing now is that we have all the latest machinery, equipment and facilities required in modern-day cricket for the players. We are now holding three- and six-month camps for the players in groups so that when they are considered for Pakistan, they are ready and have worked out their faults," he said.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)