In a stunning revelation, the Auditor General of Pakistan has uncovered financial mismanagement, unauthorised payments, and non-transparent contracts amounting to over Rs6 billion within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) during the fiscal year 2023-24. The audit has raised serious questions about governance, transparency, and financial accountability in Pakistan’s top sports institution.
According to the audit report, several payments, appointments, and agreements were made in violation of established procedures and legal frameworks. The findings expose structural weaknesses in financial controls and suggest a culture of impunity within the PCB.
One of the most glaring issues highlighted was an unauthorised payment of Rs4.17 million made for utility bills, fuel (POL), and accommodation expenses of the PCB Chairman between February and June 2024. Although the Chairman also held the office of Federal Interior Minister during this period—entitling him to such perks under existing laws—the audit report insists that the PCB was not legally allowed to cover these expenses in duplication. The PCB’s justification, citing internal bye-laws, was dismissed by the audit, which recommended recovery of the amount.
Another controversial issue was the irregular appointment of a Director of Media at a staggering salary of Rs900,000 per month. According to the report, the individual applied, was appointed, signed the agreement, and assumed duties all on the same day—October 2, 2023. The post was advertised weeks earlier, but no competitive or transparent recruitment process appears to have occurred. The Departmental Accounts Committee (DAC) has now ordered a detailed inquiry into this matter.
The audit also revealed that the PCB paid Rs63.39 million as meal allowances for police officials deployed during international cricket events, despite security being a government responsibility. The board claimed it had been advised to contribute to such expenses due to the high-level security protocols for foreign teams, but the audit termed the payment unauthorised and unjustified.
Moreover, three Under-16 cricket coaches in Karachi were appointed in violation of eligibility criteria, incurring a cost of Rs5.4 million. The DAC has called for a fact-finding investigation to determine who was responsible for bypassing standard recruitment procedures.
Other financial and procedural irregularities cited in the report include:
Award of ticketing contract without open bidding – $120,000
Overpayment to match officials – Rs3.8 million
Unnecessary hiring of transport vehicles (coasters) – Rs22.5 million
Use of diesel for bulletproof vehicles provided by Punjab government – Rs19.8 million
Contract for surface travel awarded without competition – Rs198 million
Undervalued sale of media rights – Rs439.9 million
Ground rent paid without legal basis – Rs5.5 million
Fake lease agreement for PCB office resulting in illegal rent payment – Rs3.9 million
Award of international broadcasting rights without tender – $99,999 (Rs27.4 million)
Non-recovery of sponsorship dues – Rs5.3 billion
In total, these irregularities reflect a pattern of financial negligence and poor oversight in the use of public and corporate funds. Many of the contracts were awarded without open competition, undermining transparency and meritocracy.
Responding to the report, a senior PCB official told The News that most of the highlighted irregularities did not occur under the current Chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s tenure. The official suggested that former chairmen should be approached for their comments and accountability.
This audit has reignited the debate over governance in Pakistan’s sports bodies, especially in cricket which receives massive public attention and funding. Critics argue that despite PCB’s status as an autonomous entity, it must operate under principles of transparency and public accountability, especially when large sums are involved and national prestige is at stake.
Unless institutional reforms are introduced and legal action taken against those responsible, the trust deficit between the PCB and cricket fans is likely to deepen. The public now awaits whether the government or the judiciary will take meaningful action on these findings—or if they will simply become another ignored chapter in Pakistan’s long history of audit failures.
