Mohammad Rizwan Cleared to Lead SNGPL in President’s Trophy Final Round Against KRL
Mohammad Rizwan has been cleared to return to domestic cricket and will captain Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) against Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) in the final round of the President’s Trophy Grade-I 2026–27.
The PCB’s director of domestic cricket has reportedly granted the wicketkeeper-batter permission to play. SNGPL’s director of cricket, Mohammad Hafeez, confirmed that Rizwan will represent the department from October 19, ending weeks of uncertainty around his domestic future.
Why Mohammad Rizwan’s clearance matters
Rizwan’s absence from the eight-team first-class tournament had nothing to do with form or fitness. It was linked to an ongoing inquiry into alleged online betting and gambling activities — the same inquiry that saw him served a second notice by the NCCIA earlier this month.
According to Geo Super, Rizwan joined the SNGPL squad in Islamabad after his mid-series omission from Pakistan’s Test squad for the England tour. He was expected to captain the departmental side in the absence of Shan Masood, and he took part in a training session and a team meeting.
The PCB then contacted the department and instructed it to send him back, citing the ongoing inquiry. SNGPL management passed the board’s directive on to Rizwan, who travelled to Lahore. Sources close to the batter said the department had even been prepared to conduct a fitness test on him — an assessment no other cricketer returning from the England tour was asked to undergo.
What the clearance covers
The permission allows Rizwan to play and lead SNGPL in the final round of the competition. Reports indicate he has now rejoined the squad and is available for selection for the four-day fixture against KRL.
The development is a clear step toward normalising his playing status. The inquiry had earlier blocked him not only from the President’s Trophy but also from training at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, leaving him to train on his own in Peshawar.
Nepal Premier League NOC still pending
Rizwan had separately approached the PCB for a no-objection certificate (NOC) to play in the Nepal Premier League, having reportedly finalised a deal with a franchise there. The board has not yet responded to that request.
Sources suggest the clearance is likely to come once the President’s Trophy concludes, since the board has been reluctant to grant NOCs for overseas leagues while domestic competitions are under way. Pakistan’s current domestic calendar is packed, and the board wants its contracted players prioritised for home tournaments.
Where Rizwan’s domestic comeback leaves him
The clearance comes at a delicate point in the 34-year-old’s career. His mid-series exit from the England tour and the subsequent inquiry raised real questions about his place in Pakistan’s plans across formats. A strong run in the President’s Trophy final round would give him the most direct answer to those doubts: runs in the middle, leadership on the field, and a visible return to the dressing-room fold.
It also matters for SNGPL, who have been without their first-choice captain Shan Masood all tournament. Getting an experienced wicketkeeper-batter to lead the side into the final round is the closest thing to a full-strength leadership group the department has fielded this season.
The coming days will show whether this clearance is the start of a fuller reintegration. For now, with the England visitors arriving for the home ODI tri-series and the World Cup build-up taking shape under Shaheen Afridi’s captaincy, Rizwan has at least got his playing career back on the pitch.
FAQ
When will Mohammad Rizwan play for SNGPL?
Rizwan is cleared to represent SNGPL from October 19 and will captain the side against KRL in the final round of the President’s Trophy Grade-I 2026–27.
Why was Rizwan kept out of the President’s Trophy?
The PCB instructed SNGPL to release him because of an ongoing inquiry into alleged online betting and gambling activities. The board, not fitness or form, was the reason for his absence.
Has the PCB inquiry against Rizwan ended?
No official announcement has been made about the inquiry concluding. The board has granted permission for domestic cricket, while the separate NOC request for the Nepal Premier League remains pending.
What is the Nepal Premier League NOC request about?
Rizwan has reportedly finalised a deal with a franchise in the Nepal Premier League and asked the PCB for a no-objection certificate. Sources say the board is likely to decide after the President’s Trophy concludes.
