The owner of the Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) Rawalpindi Pindiz franchise, Ahsan Tahir, has threatened to withdraw the team from the competition if veteran Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan is prevented from playing cricket.
Speaking in response to media speculation regarding an alleged move to impose a comprehensive ban on Rizwan, Tahir voiced strong opposition to any such measure, describing it as unjust and unacceptable, The News reported on Wednesday.
The franchise owner made it clear that his continued involvement in the PSL is closely connected with Rizwan’s presence in the game and insisted he would immediately reconsider his position if the player was prevented from taking part in cricketing activities.
Tahir revealed that Rizwan was the central figure behind his decision to acquire the franchise, emphasising that his commitment to the team was built around the Pakistan captain’s leadership and influence.
He stated that he had purchased the side specifically with Rizwan in mind and maintained that there would be little reason to remain involved in the league if the star batter was excluded.
Highlighting the nature of their relationship, Tahir said his admiration for Rizwan extended beyond cricket, describing him as a mentor whose values and guidance have influenced his personal life.
He stressed that his business interests remain firmly established in both Pakistan and the United States and that ownership of a cricket franchise was not a commercial necessity for him.
The development comes amid the ongoing NCCIA inquiry following the seizure of Rizwan’s mobile phone after the Lord’s Test in England.
During a hearing at the Lahore High Court (LHC) last week, Rizwan’s lawyer, Qazi Umair Ali, told Chief Justice Aalia Neelum that the cricketer had been called to a hotel lobby after the Test and questioned without being served a notice.
According to his counsel, Rizwan’s mobile phone was taken into custody after he was assured that it would be returned within three hours. The device has yet to be returned.
Previously, sources told Geo News that Rizwan had also sought guidance from the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) regarding the seizure of his phone.
The NCCIA inquiry relates to online betting and gambling in Pakistan cricket, while reports have also linked it to alleged leaks of information from the Pakistan dressing room during the Test series against England.
Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq appeared before the agency in Lahore earlier this month. No final finding against either player has been officially announced.
For the unversed, the wicketkeeper-batter and the left-handed opener were among seven players released from Pakistan’s Test squad following the defeat to England at Lord’s.