ISLAMABAD, Aug 10: Startling disclosures of alleged financial wrongdoing by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in the run-up to the recent India series have been made by former treasurer Muhammad Naeem.
Naeem, who was in office for more than four years, on Tuesday submitted a four-page charge-sheet against the PCB chairman, Shaharyar M. Khan, with the Senate Standing Committee on Sports.
While admitting that he stood by his resignation, Naeem told the senators that he had never "specifically" withdrawn it, as claimed by Mr Khan in an earlier meeting of the senate committee. "I did indicate that if the committee system within the board was revived completely, I would be willing to continue and withdraw my resignation."
He said that he had recommended to the chairman to reconstitute various committees with necessary authority in order to ensure transparency and financial probity. But he pointed out that no action was taken in this regard.
Naeem claimed that he had objected to Mr Khan's idea, in the light of LUMS report, of appointing a paid treasurer and chief executive because he felt that by so doing no one would provide financial oversight.
"If these officials were paid, they would never cry foul over any wrong that is done because no one would want to lose his job, especially when they are getting salaries. "Except for one or two instances, there has been no tradition of appointing a paid treasurer or chief executive. It is only the treasurer who can provide oversight," Naeem said.
Naeem claims in his resignation that the first advice he offered to the chairman was not to terminate the services of his general manager Marketing. "I had explained that his only problem was his disregard for adherence to appropriate procedures in finalizing various deals and contracts." Mr Khan went ahead and sacked the marketing man and instead brought in Riaz Mahmood, who is said to be his friend.
