Chairman PCB Allegedly Received Illegal Perks Worth Millions of Rupees

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was already in hot water after a recent audit report underlined administrative incompetence, but according to new revelations, things are about to get even worse for its chairman, Mohsin Naqvi.

According to sources in local media, the same audit report has revealed that the PCB spent a staggering PKR 4.17 million on perks for its chairman, which he is not entitled to. Mohsin Naqvi already enjoys these benefits as the country’s federal interior minister, raising serious questions over financial transparency within the board.

The Auditor General of Pakistan flagged these expenses in its latest review, calling the dual benefits both “illegal and unethical.”

Between February and June 2024, the PCB reportedly paid for Mohsin Naqvi’s utility bills, fuel expenses, and hotel stays, despite the fact that under federal law, he was already receiving similar privileges in his ministerial role.

According to the audit, the expenses covered by the PCB include PKR 2.4 million in utility bills for Naqvi’s private residence in Lahore, PKR 563,000 in fuel costs for his Toyota Fortuner, and PKR 1.16 million for private hotel accommodation in Islamabad.

These payments, the report said, were made in addition to what Naqvi is already allowed under the Federal Ministers and Ministers of State (Salaries, Allowances and Privileges) Act, 1975, which grants PKR 22,000 per month for utilities, along with official vehicle use and rent-free housing.

“The Chairman PCB, in his capacity as Minister of Interior, was already entitled to these privileges at state expense. Availing the same benefits simultaneously through the PCB amounts to dual compensation, which is neither legal nor ethical,” the report said.

The PCB, however, quickly came to the defence of its chairman, arguing that its own internal policies allowed for such expenses and that the law does not explicitly bar perks for ministers holding additional roles. The board maintained that the payments were made in good faith, following the precedent set by previous chairmen.

But the audit team dismissed this reasoning, terming it “legally untenable.” The report reiterated that public officeholders cannot claim the same benefits from two different government-linked sources.

Among the flagged expenses, the PKR 1.16 million hotel stay has been specifically marked for recovery, with auditors ordering that the amount be reimbursed by the PCB chairman.

The board’s current handling of finances is now under the microscope, especially at a time when calls for governance reform in Pakistan cricket are growing louder. PCB, however, has not shown any signs of slowing down its spending, with the chairman leading the overhaul.

With mounting public scrutiny and the audit’s findings laid bare, it remains to be seen whether the PCB will revise its policies or continue to blur the lines between cricket administration and political office.