New Delhi: Corruption has rocked the Pakistan Cricket Board as audit has exposed big financial irregularities within the PCB in the past two years. As per the audit report, the financial fraud is of more that rupees 6 billion ($21 millions) in addition to the governance issues going on from the year 2023.
The Auditor General of Pakistan’s report for the year 2023-2024 financial year was published in The News, which is a Pakistan-based newspaper. The report highlighted the non-recovery of outstanding sponsorship worth rupees 5.3 billion ($18.6 millions) as the major discrepancy identified.
The report has further questioned the cricket board regarding the amount spent on meals for police and law enforcement personnel assigned for the security of foreign teams during international matches in the country. The question raised is of about 63.39 million rupees which amounts to dollar 220,000.
Corruption in varied forms hits PCB
The auditors have further said that providing security is the responsibility of governments and disagreed with the Pakistan Cricket Board’s explanation that the international teams which visited the country were given extra safety that required heavy deployment of the police personnel.
In the report, it has also been flagged that the PCB has hired three junior regional coaches who did not meet the eligibility criteria and the appointment of a media director without a proper procedure being followed. Compensation paid to cover utility charges, fuel and accommodation for the PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi between February and June of last year was also highlighted as unauthorized because Navqi received that as part of his government benefits.
The auditors have also rejected the cricket board’s response that the PCB chairman is authorized for utility expense as per bylaws. There has been no official comment from the PCB in this matter yet.
(With PTI inputs)