The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is under serious scrutiny following a damning audit report by the Auditor General of Pakistan, which has highlighted striking financial irregularities in the board’s operations during the 2023–24 fiscal year.
According to the audit report seen by local media, irregular payments, questionable appointments, and poorly managed contracts by the PCB have resulted in a financial impact exceeding Rs6 billion.
The audit report has raised serious concerns about PCB’s governance, transparency, and financial oversight in Pakistan’s top cricketing institution at a time when the game is under growing public and political scrutiny.
One of the most glaring issues is the appointment of a new Director Media. The post was advertised in August 2023, but the appointed individual applied, was approved, received their appointment letter, and joined all on October 2, 2023. The process bypassed standard recruitment timelines and raised red flags.
While the PCB claimed the records exist and it would respond to the audit formally, the Departmental Accounts Committee (DAC) has ordered a full inquiry.
The PCB paid over Rs63 million in meal charges to police and law enforcement officials deployed during international matches. The board justified this by saying they were sharing costs due to high-level VVIP security demands.
However, the audit rejected this explanation, stating that security is the government’s responsibility, not the cricket board’s.
Three coaches for the regional Under-16 setup in Karachi were hired without meeting eligibility criteria. The PCB again claimed documents exist, but the DAC called for a fact-finding inquiry to establish responsibility.
A ticketing deal for international events was awarded without an open bidding process, violating public procurement norms. Similar issues were noted in awarding broadcasting rights and surface travel contracts, totaling hundreds of millions in rupees.
The PCB reportedly awarded media rights at rates below the reserve price, causing a loss of Rs439.9 million. Meanwhile, sponsorship money worth Rs5.3 billion remains unrecovered, raising major concerns about contract enforcement and follow-up.
Additional irregularities included:
Speaking to The News, the PCB’s Director of Media clarified that these irregularities found in the audit predate current Chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s tenure, implying that the issues may have occurred under former chairmen. The board has committed to responding in full once the audit inspection is officially submitted.
The Auditor General has recommended recoveries, proper documentation, and multiple investigations to determine responsibility for the financial lapses highlighted by PCB’s audit reports. The DAC has directed the PCB to conduct fact-finding inquiries across several cases.
As the PCB continues to operate with significant funding, these findings in PCB’s audit have reignited concerns about how the sport is being governed behind the scenes. For now, the ball is in the Pakistan Cricket Board’s court, and the public, stakeholders, and fans await transparency, accountability, and perhaps most importantly, reform.
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