21 August 2004	Saturday	04 Rajab 1425

KARACHI, Aug 20: Former treasurer of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Muhammad Naeem on Friday insisted on his earlier stand regarding the lack of transparency while awarding local contracts during Indo-Pakistan series in March-April.

"Proper procedures were not followed while awarding contracts and some other matters despite the presence of board's high-powered bid committee instituted by chairman himself", he said on Friday.

Naeem said same international bid committee of the board properly followed the procedures while awarding contracts. Why they did not follow suit in local contracts in the same 18-days which PCB chairman Shaharyar M.Khan had said because of time constrains, he questioned.

He said he had taken the alleged stand on principles and in the larger interest of cricket in the country and have no grudge against any one. Naeem maintined that he was on a personal trip to Karachi and wanted to talk to reporters, emphatically denied that he was being used as "vested interest" as tool to malign PCB.

"Its all rubbish. I resigned just for the sake of principles," he claimed. He called for an independent inquiry into the charges he levelled against the PCB officials about award of local contracts during the Indian series.

Naeem alleged that one of the board's consultants Riaz Mahmood, who is a close friend of PCB chairman, besides being paid Rs 7000 per hour is also being paid commission on sponsorship which he said was wrong. Commissions were awarded on negotiating deals and not for bids as highest bid get the contract.

Meanwhile, an official of PCB, rejected claim of Naeem that Riaz was being paid Rs.7000 per hour. In addition, he also categorically denied that any commission was given to Riaz on bids.

PCB official alleged that being a former Treasurer of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Naeem drew Rs.1.6 million from accounts the Asian body despite his honorary position with the ACC.

He alleged that Naeem was involved in unethical practices and once travelled on bank's tickets to Singapore after opening ACC account in that bank. He claimed that some members of ACC were upset over his withdrawing large amount of money.

PCB official questioned why Naeem was attending his office till August despite tendering his resignation on May 13. He should have written another letter to chairman regarding acceptance of resignation or otherwise which is normal practice everywhere, he concluded. -APP