The Auditor General of Pakistan has unearthed significant financial irregularities within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), highlighting millions extravagantly spent, illegal appointments, and contracts distributed without competition. The audit narrates various alarming incidents, such as a payment of 63.39 million Pakistani Rupees for meals of police placed on security duty, which reportedly bypassed regulatory norms.
Illegal Appointments and Unwarranted Payments
The audit reveals unlawful hiring of under-16 coaches at the High-Performance Center in Karachi, accumulating an expense of 5.4 million Pakistani Rupees. Additionally, ticketing contracts were awarded without open competition, flouting governance regulations.
Furthermore, a surplus of 3.8 million Pakistani Rupees was disbursed as match fees to officials. The report points out that the appointment of a media director in October 2023 was irregular, with the vacancy advertised, approved, offered, contracted, and commenced all on the same day, 2nd October 2023.
Chairmen's Role and Financial Ambiguities
From June 2023 to July 2024, PCB saw two chairmen, Zaka Ashraf and Mohsin Naqvi, amid persistent leadership changes post-ex-captain Ramiz Raja's removal in December 2022. Since then, Najam Sethi (December 2022-June 2023), Zaka Ashraf (June 2023-January 2024), and Mohsin Naqvi (February 2024 to present) have taken turns at the helm.
Between February and June 2024, the chairman reportedly received 4.17 million Pakistani Rupees for utility bills, petrol, and accommodation, even though serving as the country's Interior Minister then, with entitled allowances supposedly covered under government norms.
Lack of Transparency and Billions Lost
The Auditor General spotlighted billions of Pakistani Rupees mismanaged without authorized processes or tenders:
* 19.8 million Pakistani Rupees on diesel for bulletproof vehicles * 22.5 million Pakistani Rupees renting coasters (mini buses) * Loss of 198 million Pakistani Rupees in media rights sold at low rates * USD 99 million international broadcasting rights allotted sans tender * 5.3 billion Pakistani Rupees in sponsorship funds not retrieved
Absence of Accountability
This isn't the maiden outcry against PCB's financial setups; the Auditor General has raised similar red flags before, yet no chairman has been held liable. Instead, figures like Najam Sethi and Zaka Ashraf have recurrently chaired the board.
