The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)’s Anti-Corruption Wing in Islamabad arrested two individuals, including a cricket umpire, on Wednesday for allegedly running a global cricket gambling operation.

The suspects, Zahid Ali and Mujibur Rahman, now face two separate cases filed by the FIA.

According to the official reports, Zahid Ali, a former Sindh Police official, professional cricketer, and umpire, played cricket until 2021 and officiated matches at the district level. He is accused of engaging in online cricket betting and maintaining contacts with international women cricketers.

The FIR indicates that Zahid Ali had connections with players from Zimbabwe, Kenya, Ghana, and other African nations. He reportedly presented himself as a professional umpire and operated a WhatsApp group called “World Cricket Law.” He is also alleged to have been involved in money laundering and cross-border sports betting.

The FIA confirmed that significant evidence and data were retrieved from the suspects’ mobile phones.

Meanwhile, Mujibur Rahman is alleged to have links with gamblers in India, the UAE, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, including contacts with a franchise owner during the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL). The investigation reportedly revealed that Rahman had previously received a notice from the International Cricket Council (ICC) and was involved in human trafficking in connection with cricket betting activities.

Additionally, both suspects are said to have participated in creating forged educational documents, the FIA added.