Former cricketers have strongly criticised the manner in which allegations against Mohammad Rizwan are being handled, questioning the absence of solid evidence and a formal written charge against the former Pakistan captain. The criticism comes as no specific statutory or contractual violation by Rizwan has so far been publicly identified.
Former cricket star Shoaib Akhtar argued that targeting Rizwan without solid evidence unfairly makes a scapegoat of an honest player, warning that such actions harm the future of Pakistan cricket. Mohsin Hassan Khan questioned the prolonged, public disgrace of a player without proven guilt, stating that unproven allegations of fixing and gambling needlessly ruin his reputation when he could have simply been sent back to domestic cricket.
Junaid Khan expressed concern over the personal impact of the investigation, noting that the inquiry forced Rizwan to cancel his planned Umrah trip. Rizwan has a documented history of formally requesting contract clauses excluding alcohol, gambling, and surrogate betting sponsorships from his kits and remuneration.
Rizwan appeared before investigative officials on September 10, submitted a written response seeking formal clarification on September 15, and subsequently sought legal recourse and clarification from the ICC regarding regulatory procedures. Both cricket authorities and investigative agencies have yet to issue a clear statement outlining the exact statutory or contractual violation being investigated. All relevant departments were reached by this correspondent for view but none responded.