Several Pakistan cricketers, including Babar Azam, have reportedly suffered heavy financial losses after allegedly investing in a Ponzi scheme.
Reports claim that Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi are also among the players affected. The matter has allegedly been brought to the attention of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which is understood to be reviewing the situation after concerns were raised within cricket circles.
According to the report, around a dozen current national team players, including Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, and others, are said to have invested large sums through a Pakistani businessman who has now reportedly left the country.
Sources allege the businessman was familiar to several players like Babar Azam and had connections within the cricket ecosystem, including sponsorship activity in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The investment arrangement initially appeared to work, with investors receiving payments for the first few months. However, the payouts allegedly stopped later, triggering alarm among those involved.
When the players sought an explanation, the businessman reportedly claimed he had suffered major losses and was unable to return the invested money. After that, he allegedly cut off contact and subsequently left Pakistan.
The case is being framed as a possible Ponzi scheme, where early “returns” are typically paid using incoming funds from newer investors instead of legitimate profits. Such setups often collapse once fresh investments slow down, leaving investors with substantial losses.
While the exact figures have not been officially confirmed, reports suggest the players could be facing losses running into millions of rupees, with some allegedly investing not only personal funds but also money belonging to family members and close associates.