Mohammad Rizwan’s journey in international cricket has been a story of patience, perseverance and transformation.

Once considered a backup wicketkeeper struggling for opportunities, the Peshawar-born cricketer evolved into one of Pakistan’s most dependable performers across formats, earning recognition as a world-class wicketkeeper-batsman and key leadership figure.

Since making his international debut in April 2015, Rizwan has experienced dramatic highs and lows. His career, which once appeared uncertain due to limited opportunities, eventually turned into one of Pakistan cricket’s most remarkable comebacks.

When Rizwan first entered the international arena after the 2015 World Cup, Pakistan’s wicketkeeping position was still unsettled. He made an encouraging start against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, displaying promise with the bat and reliability behind the stumps.

However, against stronger opponents, weaknesses in his batting technique were exposed. A prolonged lean period followed, and after losing his place to Sarfraz Ahmed during the 2016

World T20, Rizwan found himself on the sidelines for an extended period.

For nearly three years, he remained largely outside Pakistan’s plans despite continuing to perform strongly in domestic cricket. His consistent domestic record kept him in discussions, but opportunities at the international level remained limited.

Rizwan is now facing the most difficult period of his career after becoming involved in a high- profile investigation by Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).

The inquiry reportedly focuses on allegations related to online betting connections, financial matters and possible leakage of confidential team information during Pakistan’s England tour.

Rizwan has denied wrongdoing, while the investigation remains ongoing.

The controversy intensified after authorities took possession of Rizwan’s mobile phone for forensic examination following the Lord’s Test match against England.

Rizwan later approached the Lahore High Court, where his legal representatives questioned the procedure followed by investigators and argued that cricket-related corruption matters should involve relevant cricket authorities.

The court, however, directed Rizwan to cooperate with the investigation process.

The NCCIA has reportedly sought extensive financial and digital information as part of its inquiry, including social media history and financial records.

The investigation emerged after a difficult England tour for Pakistan, where disappointing performances resulted in major changes within the squad.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) removed several players, including Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq and Salman Ali Agha, from the tour and made changes to the coaching set-up.

The decision sparked widespread debate among former players, analysts and fans, with many questioning the manner in which the situation was handled.

In a ruling issued on September 17, 2026, the LHC dismissed Rizwan’s plea challenging the jurisdiction of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and the absence of formal charges against him. While the court ordered the cricketer to cooperate fully with the probe, it explicitly directed the NCCIA to refrain from harassing him during the proceedings.

Blocked at the domestic level, Rizwan has bypassed local state channels to escalate the matter globally, lodging a formal request with the International Cricket Council (ICC) Anti-Corruption Unit.

Rizwan’s fortunes changed during Pakistan’s 2019 tour of South Africa when he returned to the side after Sarfaraz Ahmed was unavailable. His comeback began a new chapter.

A confident 95 in Brisbane during his first Test after recall provided an early indication of his growth. However, it was Pakistan’s tour of England in 2020 that established Rizwan as the team’s long-term wicketkeeper.

His performances in Southampton, where he scored crucial half-centuries and produced outstanding wicketkeeping displays, convinced selectors that Pakistan had finally found a reliable option behind the stumps.

Soon afterward, Rizwan was appointed Test vice-captain and became an important part of Pakistan’s white-ball set-up.

At one stage, many believed that Rizwan’s style was not suited to modern T20 cricket. His patient approach and traditional batting method were questioned in a format increasingly dominated by aggressive stroke-makers. But Rizwan changed that perception completely.

Between 2021 and 2022, he produced one of the greatest T20 runs in Pakistan cricket history.

During this period, he became one of the world’s leading T20 batsmen and formed a highly successful opening partnership with Babar Azam.

In 2021, Rizwan created history by scoring 1,326 T20 International runs in a calendar year - a record that highlighted his extraordinary consistency.

He also played a major role in Multan Sultans’ success in the Pakistan Super League, leading the franchise to its first title.

Rizwan remains one of Pakistan’s rare cricketers to achieve international centuries across all three formats.

In Test cricket, he has accumulated more than 2,600 runs, including three centuries, while also producing impressive wicketkeeping performances.

In ODIs, he has scored nearly 3,000 runs with multiple centuries and half-centuries, combining stability with attacking ability.

His strongest format has been T20 Internationals, where he has scored more than 3,400 runs, including a century and numerous match-winning innings.

Beyond statistics, his ability to adapt between formats has made him one of Pakistan’s most valuable modern cricketers.

Despite his success, Rizwan’s career has also faced challenges. His conservative batting approach in T20 cricket attracted criticism, particularly regarding strike rate and power-play scoring.

Following Pakistan’s disappointing 2024 T20 World Cup campaign, he lost the captaincy and eventually his place in the shortest format. However, his reliability as a wicketkeeper and his performances in longer formats continued to keep him among Pakistan’s leading players.

Mohammad Rizwan’s career remains defined by resilience. From years of waiting for an opportunity to becoming Pakistan’s leading wicketkeeper-batter, his journey reflects determination and consistency.

The ongoing investigation represents a significant challenge, but the final outcome will depend on the findings of the authorities involved.

For now, Pakistan cricket awaits clarity on a case involving one of its most successful modern players - a cricketer whose career has been built on patience, performance and perseverance.

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