FBI probing PCB-linked entities, senior cricketer over alleged match-fixing, gambling

Sources said the matter was raised during Naqvi’s visit to the US, where a senior Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officer briefed him about the investigation. During the same visit, Naqvi also met FBI Director Kash Patel.

According to the sources, the FBI officer told Naqvi that the investigation involved Pakistani fast bowler Haris Rauf and individuals associated with the San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket (MLC).

The Pakistan Cricket Board has given special permission to Haris Rauf to continue playing for the San Francisco Unicorns despite his commitments to Pakistan’s national team.

The San Francisco Unicorns are owned by Anand Rajaraman and Venky Harinarayan, Indian-origin entrepreneurs based in San Francisco. Sources claimed that both have close ties with Naqvi and maintain business and commercial links through cricket.

A source with knowledge of the development claimed that an FBI officer told Naqvi that Haris Rauf and San Francisco Unicorns owners Anand Rajaraman and Venky Harinarayan were under investigation over allegations involving match-fixing and wire fraud, including betting and spot-fixing.

“The FBI officer told Naqvi that the FBI believes US securities laws may have been violated. Naqvi promised that he would look into the matter but did nothing,” the source claimed.

Pakistan’s cricket team has faced heavy criticism over its poor performances in recent matches, including defeats against England. The overall state of Pakistan cricket has also come under intense scrutiny during Naqvi’s tenure as PCB chairman.

In addition to serving as Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Naqvi is Pakistan’s Interior Minister. Critics have argued that running the PCB requires full-time attention and that a serving federal minister may not have sufficient time to focus on the affairs of the cricket board.

Some critics have also alleged that Naqvi has allowed favoured cricketers to sign lucrative overseas contracts while the performance of the national team has continued to decline.

According to insiders, Haris Rauf has been allowed to play for the American franchise owned by Indian-origin businessmen because of his close personal relationship with Naqvi.

In the Asia Cup 2025 final against India, Rauf endured a particularly expensive spell with the ball. Pakistan had reduced India to 20 for three while defending a target of 147, but Rauf conceded 50 runs from 3.4 overs without taking a wicket.

Rauf’s inability to contain Tilak Varma and the Indian middle order proved costly as India recovered to reach 150 for five, winning by five wickets with two balls remaining. Rauf had earlier scored six runs from four balls, but his expensive bowling spell became one of the major factors in Pakistan’s failure to defend the total.

Following the match, questions were raised in some quarters over Pakistan’s performance and the circumstances surrounding the defeat. However, any suggestion linking Rauf’s performance in the Asia Cup final to match-fixing would require independent evidence and should not be presented as an established fact.