Dawn understands that the duo, who were questioned by the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) on Thursday following a complaint lodged by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), have been restricted from joining their respective teams until the probe against them is settled.

Imam was named captain of the Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDCL) side, while Rizwan was included as vice-captain of the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) team in the squads announced by the PCB on Thursday.

According to sources, the two players would not have been eligible to play in the opening round of the tournament anyway as they did not participate in a mandatory fitness test held ahead of the competition.

However, the departments concerned have reportedly been told that the two players should not be allowed to play “until the end of the investigation”.

The development comes after Imam and Rizwan appeared before the NCCIA in connection with an investigation into alleged leaks from Pakistan’s dressing room during the ongoing Test tour of England.

The two were among seven players who were called back home following Pakistan’s defeats in the first two Tests, leaving England with an unassailable lead in the three-match series.

While five players were dropped for cricketing reasons, Imam and Rizwan’s withdrawal from the Pakistan squad was followed by reports that their mobile phones had been confiscated by PCB officials.

The board subsequently confirmed the launch of an “internal inquiry” against the two players.

Earlier, national selector and PCB director of high performance Aaqib Javed had said Imam would also be investigated for not coming out to bat during either innings of Pakistan’s second Test against England at Lord’s, which the visitors lost by 194 runs.

Aaqib’s comments came in the aftermath of the PCB’s wholesale changes following the second Test, which also saw the sacking of head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul, amid speculation that Imam had been fit enough to bat.

On Thursday, a PCB spokesperson acknowledged reports regarding an NCCIA probe involving certain cricketers, but said the board would not comment while the inquiry was ongoing.

However, a source privy to the development told Dawn that both cricketers appeared at the NCCIA office in Lahore after being summoned through notices and were questioned by investigators for around four hours.

According to the source, both players told investigators that their cellphones were already with the NCCIA and that the agency could carry out forensic examinations of the devices.

Both players have also reportedly sought more time to submit written responses to the investigating agency.

“The inquiry will focus on alleged leaks from the dressing room during the England series,” the source had said.

Fatima scored an unbeaten 47 off 36 balls and took four wickets, but Sri Lanka reached 134-6 with Harshita Samarawickrama leading the chase with 36 off 31 balls.

Sri Lanka opted to bowl after winning the toss, meaning Pakistan batted first for the fourth consecutive match in the tournament. Pakistan also fielded an unchanged XI for the fourth successive game.

Pakistan made a slow start, with opener Muneeba Ali falling to Sugandika Kumari in the second over, sending a simple catch to mid-off. Shawaal Zulfiqaar then accelerated, hitting Mithali Ayodhya for two fours and a six in the next over.

She then cleared long-on off Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu for six, but fell to the same bowler off the next delivery while attempting to play the ball fine. Wicket-keeper Kaushini Nuthyangana completed a sharp catch.

Ayesha Zafar joined Gul Feroza but lasted only eight balls, scoring seven before edging Athapaththu to the wicketkeeper while attempting a cut.

Sadaf Shamas was then stumped off Chamudi Praboda for eight off 11 balls, bringing Fatima to the crease.

Fatima and Feroza consolidated the innings with a 40-run partnership before Feroza was caught by Athapaththu at long-off off Praboda.

Fatima and Tuba Hassan then added 38 in the final four overs to take Pakistan to 130-6. Fatima battled cramps in the Dubai heat to remain unbeaten on 47, hitting boundaries off both Athapaththu and Kavisha Dilhari, while Tuba scored 12 off 10 balls.

Fatima strikes early

Fatima made an immediate impact with the ball, taking two wickets from two deliveries in her first over to leave Sri Lanka reeling at 5-2.

Athapaththu was caught at deep backward square before Sanjana Kavindi was dismissed off the next ball, sending a leading edge to midwicket.

Hasini Perera and Imesha Dulani then steadied the innings, rotating the strike to take Sri Lanka to 31 before Sadia Iqbal struck. Perera miscued a delivery into the air, with Ayesha Zafar holding on to a well-judged catch.

Umm-e-Hani then removed Dulani to reduce Sri Lanka to 33-4.

However, Samarawickrama and Dilhari put Sri Lanka back in control with a 67-run partnership, taking the score to 100-4. The pair took the attack to Pakistan’s spinners, scoring briskly against Tuba Hassan, Ayesha Zafar and Nashra Sandhu.

Fatima returned to strike twice in her third over and complete her four-wicket haul. She dismissed Samarawickrama off the first ball of the 17th over before trapping Dilhari leg-before wicket off the final delivery.

Two boundaries between those wickets, however, ensured Sri Lanka remained in control of the chase.

Kaushini Nuthyangana and Nilakshika Silva then took Sri Lanka over the line. Nuthyangana hit the first six of her international career before Silva sealed victory with a four, both boundaries coming off Fatima.

The victory marked Sri Lanka’s third consecutive Asia Cup semi-final win over Pakistan, following their victories in the 2022 and 2024 editions.

“We have good players. If we can execute our plans in the final, we can beat any team,” Athapaththu said after the match.

Fatima, who was named player of the match for her all-round performance, said lapses in the field had cost Pakistan despite what she considered a defendable total. She also said the team needed to improve as a batting unit.

Sri Lanka will meet India in the final on Sunday in a repeat of the previous edition’s title clash.