Pakistan busts international cricket gambling ring, two prime suspects arrested

ISLAMABAD: An international cricket gambling network has been unearthed in Pakistan, with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arresting two key suspects during an intelligence-based operation in Islamabad.

Officials told HUM News English that both men were allegedly linked to an organised betting ring with connections to players and facilitators across several countries.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has also been informed of the development, while FIA has registered two separate cases under gambling laws.

According to the FIR, the first accused, Mujeeb ur Rehman alias Mujeeb Rao, was intercepted at Niazi Adda in Sector G-9, Islamabad, after arriving from Multan for what investigators believe were gambling-related activities.

FIA officers seized two mobile phones from his possession, saying that digital records could help trace communication with cricket bettors operating in the UAE, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, India, Nepal and other countries.

During initial questioning, Mujeeb confessed to his involvement in gambling and said he had met Tamim Rehman, owner of the Lanka Premier League franchise Dambulla Thunders, who was previously arrested in Sri Lanka.

The FIR also stated that the International Cricket Council (ICC) had issued Mujeeb a notice due to alleged links with international bookies.

Investigators further said that he was involved in preparing fake documents for human smuggling, and frequently travelled abroad as a carrier. “If a timely raid was not conducted, important digital evidence could have been destroyed,” the report added.

In a separate raid, FIA arrested Zahid Ali, a Sindh police constable and former district-level cricket umpire, from Karachi Company in Islamabad.

Officials recovered one active and four switched-off mobile phones from him.

According to investigators, Zahid had been involved in online cricket betting for the past six months through the platform “1win.com” and had established contact with cricketers in multiple African countries including Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, Ghana and Cameroon.

The FIR stated that he introduced himself as a professional Pakistani umpire, gathered WhatsApp contacts, created a group titled “World Cricket Law”, and used it to build connections internationally for gambling and suspected money laundering.

Authorities said the devices contained forged degree and certificate samples linked to work visa processing, raising suspicions of document fraud and illegal financial transactions.

 The cased had been registered under Sections 5/6 of the Gambling Act 1977, and Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 109 PPC read with 18 E.O 1979. Further arrests are expected as the investigation progresses.