PCB confiscates players' phones ahead of final England Test at Edgbaston
The Pakistan Cricket Board has taken the mobile phones of unnamed national team members into its custody until the third Test against England concludes.
In a surprising step before the final Test of Pakistan's England tour, the Pakistan Cricket Board placed the mobile devices of some squad members under its control, retaining them through the conclusion of the match at Edgbaston. The identities of the players involved were not disclosed, and the PCB offered no public justification for the action. While ICC regulations restrict phone use in restricted areas during matches, they also allow anti-corruption officials to demand devices for investigations, though no such probe has been confirmed in this case.
No player has been accused of any integrity breach, and the board has not cited contractual or disciplinary clauses as the basis for the seizure. The incident occurs amid a difficult series for Pakistan, which has suffered two heavy losses, sent seven players home, and replaced test coach Sarfaraz Ahmed with Mike Hesson. Until the PCB clarifies its motives, it remains unclear whether the phone custody relates to internal discipline, team policy, or a formal anti-corruption inquiry.
Why it matters
It raises questions about player privacy and the extent of cricket authorities' powers during an international series.
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