Mohammad Rizwan’s ongoing controversy has taken another unexpected turn after a false report on the internet linking the Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter’s reported disciplinary problem during the England tour to his decision to attend Jummah, or Friday prayers. That has added a religious dimension to a wider controversy involving Pakistan team discipline, leaked dressing-room information and a separate investigation by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) into alleged online betting and gambling.
And it is important to distinguish between what has been officially established and what remains an allegation. There is no official confirmation from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), NCCIA or Rizwan stating that attending Friday prayers was the reason for any disciplinary action against the cricketer.
‘Jummah Prayers’ claim is online.
According to the claim on social media, Pakistan team management had ordered the players not to leave the hotel prior to the second Test against England at Lord’s. The report says Rizwan left the hotel to attend Friday prayers despite the instructions.
The same claim alleges Rizwan told team management that he usually offered his other daily prayers in his room and left the hotel to attend Jummah prayers. The claim has subsequently led to debate on whether attending Friday prayers could have been considered a breach of team discipline.
The social media discussion also has referred to Muslim cricketers who have been allowed to pray while playing international cricket. But these comparisons do not indicate what instructions were given to Pakistan's players on the England tour and whether Rizwan had been given any formal disciplinary action.
THE TRUTH BEHIND RIZWAN'S "DISCIPLINE BREACH"
— Fakhar (@fkrharral) September 17, 2026
Sanaullah Khan exposes:
"Rizwan's only 'breach' was offering Jummah prayers. Before the 2nd Test, management said no one leaves the hotel. Rizwan went for Friday prayers and told them - I pray rest of the prayers in my room, I only…
The Friday-prayers story is still unverified. A report from September 17 also said the claim was an allegation and noted that there had been no official confirmation connecting it to Rizwan's disciplinary issue.
Rizwan’s Separate NCCIA Betting Inquiry
Alongside the social media claims, Rizwan faces a separate investigation by Pakistan's NCCIA. They issued notices to Rizwan as part of an inquiry into alleged online betting and gambling linked to Pakistan cricket.
Rizwan challenged the proceedings before the Lahore High Court, questioning the legitimacy and jurisdiction of the NCCIA inquiry. In his defense, his legal team said the notice did not identify a specific alleged activity by the cricketer. Rizwan had already appeared before the agency in response to an earlier summons.
The Lahore High Court on September 17 dismissed Rizwan's petition. The court asked him to approach the agency and respond to the questions raised in its notices rather than asking for intervention before going through that process.
The court development does not amount to a finding that Rizwan committed betting, gambling or match-fixing. As of now, the NCCIA inquiry is under investigation and there is no final decision against Rizwan.
England Tour Fallout
The controversy comes after a turbulent Pakistan tour of England. Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq were sent back to Pakistan after the first two Tests and Pakistan lost the three-match series 3-0.
The PCB also announced that it would conduct an internal disciplinary inquiry after media reports of player discipline and conduct. The NCCIA inquiry was also launched after a complaint from the PCB and was related to dressing room information leaks, Dawn reported.
Rizwan and Imam were questioned by the NCCIA in Lahore. Reports have said the investigators were looking at digital information and leaks but the investigation is still underway.
There is no confirmed link between the two issues.
The key point in the developing story is that Rizwan's reported discipline concerns and the NCCIA's betting-related inquiry should not automatically be treated as the same matter.
The Jummah-prayers story is based on an unverified claim circulating online. Meanwhile, the NCCIA investigation is an official inquiry regarding allegations of online betting and gambling, which Rizwan has challenged.
There has also been no evidence that attending Friday prayers was connected to the NCCIA investigation. Likewise, the information we have does not establish that the prayer-related allegation was the reason for Rizwan’s removal from the Pakistan squad.
Further NCCIA results could be more definitive on the allegations against Rizwan. However, all speculation about match-fixing, betting or the reason for any disciplinary action should be treated with caution and should not be considered as coming from the evidence we have seen.
