Worried about match fixing? PCB takes Pakistani players’ phones into custody ahead of final Test in England

Pakistan captain Babar Azam and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi (Agency Image) Pakistan’s troubled tour of England took another unexpected turn when the Pakistan Cricket Board reportedly took the mobile phones of national team members into its custody ahead of the third and final Test at Edgbaston.According to Pakistani 365 News, the players’ devices have been handed over to the PCB and will remain with the board until the conclusion of the final Test. The report did not reveal the identity of the players whose phones were taken, while the PCB did not publicly say why the devices were placed in its custody.The development has raised questions about the extent of authorities’ powers over players’ personal devices, particularly when phones can be seized, kept or accessed and what safeguards apply to private communications.

What do ICC rules say about players’ mobile phones?

Mobile phones are already subject to strict restrictions in international cricket, particularly inside designated no-go areas during matches.According to the ICC Regulations for the Players’ and Referees’ Area, players and support staff are not permitted to hold or use mobile phones or other communication devices inside designated areas, including dressing rooms, during an international match.Players are expected to place their devices in secure storage before entering such areas. The primary purpose of these regulations is to protect the integrity of international matches and prevent unauthorized communications.However, these match day restrictions are different from when a player’s personal phone is retained for an extended period of time.The ICC Anti-Corruption Code gives authorized anti-corruption officials significantly wider powers when a formal integrity investigation is underway.According to the code, an authorized anti-corruption official may request in writing that a participant surrender a mobile device or allow investigators to copy or download information from it if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the material may be relevant to the investigation.The information potentially covered by such a request is broad. It can include phone and internet records, text messages, WhatsApp conversations, photos, videos, audio files and other electronically stored documents.Participants may also be asked to provide passwords or access codes that investigators need to obtain relevant material.Failure to comply with a legitimate request during an anti-corruption investigation may itself lead to disciplinary action.

No confirmation of corruption investigation

Despite ICC provisions, the PCB’s reported decision to seize players’ phones does not in itself prove that an anti-corruption investigation is underway.The PCB’s activities in England have not been confirmed to be related to an integrity investigation involving corruption, betting or match-fixing. Neither player has been publicly accused of breaching integrity.There is also a difference between the jurisdiction of the ICC and that of the national cricket boards.In international cricket, the ICC Integrity Department has primary jurisdiction under the Global Anti-Corruption Code, while national committees generally have direct anti-corruption jurisdiction over domestic competitions.The PCB could also have separate powers arising from player contracts, team regulations or internal disciplinary procedures. However, the board has not publicly cited any such provision as the reason for the latest move.

Another setback on a chaotic tour of England

The phone controversy comes at a particularly difficult stage of Pakistan’s tour of England.After heavy defeats in the opening two Tests, PCB overhauled the mid-series team. Seven players were sent back to Pakistan and the coaching staff was reshuffled ahead of the Edgbaston final. Test coach Sarfaraz Ahmed has been replaced by Mike Hesson, who will oversee Pakistan in the third and final Test.The decision to place players’ mobile phones in PCB custody adds another unusual development to an already turbulent tour.However, the exact reason for this move remains unclear. Until the PCB provides an explanation, it cannot be determined whether the retention of the phone is linked to an internal disciplinary matter, team regulations or any formal process related to integrity.