ISLAMABAD (PEN) : The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly has called upon Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi to appear before its next meeting regarding the undistributed funds amounting to approximately Rs2 billion from the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
During a session chaired by PAC Chairman Junaid Akbar, the committee reviewed an audit report highlighting the failure to allocate the Rs2 billion between the PCB and the PSL franchise owners. Audit officials briefed the committee about the issue, raising concerns over financial transparency within the management of the league.
Absence of PCB Chairman
PAC members, including Junaid Akbar, expressed their dissatisfaction over the PCB chairman’s absence from the meeting. The cabinet secretary explained that Naqvi was unable to attend due to recent incidents in Quetta and Balochistan. However, senior politician Syed Naveed Qamar stressed that the audit process could not proceed without the PCB chairman’s presence to provide necessary clarifications.
Senator Fauzia Arshad, another committee member, insisted that the PCB chairman must be summoned to answer for the financial discrepancies. In a lighter exchange, Junaid Akbar jokingly responded, “Do you want me to spend the rest of my life in jail?” Nonetheless, Naveed Qamar pointed out that the PAC had the legal authority to issue notices or even arrest warrants under the powers of a civil judge if individuals disregarded their summons.
PAC’s Decision to Take Action
After further deliberations, the committee officially decided to summon PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi for the next meeting to address the unresolved matter of the undistributed PSL funds. The PAC aims to ensure accountability in the financial operations of the PSL and to clarify any discrepancies in the handling of the funds.
The issue has raised questions regarding the transparency of the financial distribution within the cricketing community and the need for improved oversight of the league’s operations. The outcome of the upcoming meeting with Naqvi is expected to shed light on the issue and determine the next steps for resolving the financial discrepancies.
