PCB’s Rs16.386 Million Unauthorized Payouts, Including to Chairman Sethi

Unauthorized Payments Made to Shakil Ahmad Sheikh, Muhammad Haroon Rashid Dar, Najam Sethi, and Aizad Sayid

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) paid Rs 16.386 million in unauthorized meeting and daily allowances to members of its Board of Governors (BOG) and Management Committee during the 2022-23 fiscal year, an audit revealed. The payments exceeded the entitlements set forth in PCB’s regulations and were paid for periods beyond actual meetings, resulting in significant overpayments.

According to Regulation 2(C) of the PCB Board of Governor’s Entitlements, BOG members are entitled to daily allowances for travel outside Lahore for official duties. Domestic travel is compensated at Rs 10,000 per day, while international allowances range from US$ 300 to US$ 400 depending on the destination, with accommodations arranged by the PCB. For participation in PCB committee meetings, Regulation 2(D) stipulates a Rs 10,000 allowance per meeting.

However, the audit found that Rs 11.725 million in meeting and daily allowances was paid to BOG and Management Committee members at rates higher than those prescribed by regulations, the Audit Report 2022-23 revealed.

Payments of Rs 25,000 for meetings and Rs 10,000 in daily allowances were made to members, including Shakil Ahmad Sheikh, Muhammad Haroon Rashid Dar, Najam Sethi and Mr. Aizad Sayid, even though only five BOG meetings were held between December 2022 and June 2023. The members were paid allowances for entire months, including February, March, April, and June, despite no meetings taking place for the majority of those months.

Additionally, the audit noted that Mr. Aizad Sayid, a member of the Management Committee from Lahore, was improperly paid Rs 1.06 million in daily allowances despite not traveling outside Lahore for official meetings, which is required for such payments. The audit also revealed overpayments of Rs 1.655 million due to meeting allowances being claimed at Rs 25,000 instead of the entitled Rs 20,000.

The PCB management defended the payments, stating that the BOG had been replaced by a Management Committee with executive powers, which led to enhanced rates for travel and daily allowances. However, the audit rejected this explanation, stating that the payments were irregular and that travel and daily allowances should not serve as a source of income.

The Departmental Accounts Committee (DAC), in its meeting on January 18, 2024, directed the PCB to recover the excess amount paid and to report back to the audit. It also recommended an inquiry into the unauthorized payments and recovery of the overpaid sums.