Daijiworld Media Network - Birmingham
Birmingham, Sep 6: Pakistan’s troubled England tour has taken another unusual turn, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reportedly taking mobile phones belonging to members of the national team into its custody ahead of the third and final Test at Edgbaston.
According to Pakistani media outlet 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 identities of the players involved have not been disclosed, while the PCB has not publicly explained why the phones were taken.
The development has raised questions about the extent of cricket authorities’ powers over players’ personal devices, particularly concerning when phones can be seized or retained and what safeguards apply to private communications.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) already imposes strict restrictions on mobile phones and other communication devices in designated restricted areas during international matches.
Under ICC regulations governing Player and Match Officials Areas, players and support staff are prohibited from possessing or using mobile phones or other communication devices inside restricted areas, including dressing rooms, during an international match.
Players are generally required to place their devices in secure storage before entering such areas. The rules are primarily intended to protect the integrity of matches and prevent unauthorised communication.
However, match-day restrictions are different from a situation in which a player’s personal phone is retained for an extended period.
The ICC Anti-Corruption Code gives authorised anti-corruption officials wider powers when a formal integrity investigation is underway. An authorised official can make a written demand requiring a participant to surrender a mobile device or permit investigators to copy or download information from it if there are reasonable grounds to believe the material may be relevant to an investigation.
Such information can include telephone and internet records, text messages, WhatsApp conversations, photographs, videos, audio files and other electronically stored documents. Participants can also be required to provide passwords or access codes needed to obtain relevant information.
Failure to comply with a legitimate demand during an anti-corruption investigation can itself lead to disciplinary action.
Despite these provisions, the reported decision by the PCB to take possession of players’ phones does not by itself establish that an anti-corruption investigation is underway.
There has been no confirmation that the move is connected to allegations involving corruption, betting or match-fixing. No Pakistan player has been publicly accused of an integrity offence in connection with the reported action.
There is also a distinction between the ICC’s jurisdiction and the authority of national cricket boards. In international cricket, the ICC Integrity Unit operates under the global Anti-Corruption Code, while national boards have their own jurisdiction and regulations, particularly over domestic competitions.
The PCB may also have separate powers under player contracts, team regulations or internal disciplinary procedures. However, the board has not publicly cited any such provision as the reason for retaining the phones.
The phone controversy comes at a difficult stage of Pakistan’s England tour.
After heavy defeats in the opening two Tests, the PCB made major changes to the squad during the series. Seven players were reportedly sent back to Pakistan, while changes were also made to the coaching set-up ahead of the Edgbaston finale.
The reported decision to place players’ mobile phones in PCB custody adds another unusual episode to an already turbulent tour.
For now, the precise reason for the move remains unclear. Until the PCB provides an explanation, it cannot be established whether the phone custody is linked to an internal disciplinary matter, team regulations or any formal integrity-related process.