June 24, 2006	Saturday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 27, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, June 23: A senator on Friday accused the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of corruption after details of the financial emoluments drawn by one of its officials were not divulged in a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Sports.

The refusal by the PCB Chairman, Shaharyar M. Khan, to disclose the monthly salary package of his Director Board Operations Abbas Zaidi led to a walkout by Senator Mohammad Enver Baig.

Baig had wanted to know what kind of money was being paid to Zaidi who he alleged was drawing Rs60,000 as house rent allowance each month while staying at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.

The senator left the meeting in a fit of rage after both Shaharyar and Zaidi did not come up with exact figures.

“This is corruption,” remarked a fuming Baig shortly before quitting the meeting.

“It is not a secret document and this is public money,” he claimed.

Zaidi had told the senator that he could only provide his salary details if permitted by the chairman of the committee Senator Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry. The permission was not granted.

There was a lengthy discussion on the PCB’s draft constitution and a request for its copy being given to the committee was turned down by Shaharyar. “Since it is with the President of Pakistan who is in the process of examining it, I cannot circulate it here,” he said forthrightly.

The draft constitution was submitted to President General Pervez Musharraf, the PCB Patron months ago. Reports that it had been rejected were refuted by Shaharyar.

However after extensive deliberations, it was the Federal Minister for Sports Mian Shamim Haider who told the house that he would submit a draft copy with the Senate.

The senators expressed concern over the inordinate delay in finalisation of the constitution with one member pointing out that it seemed the Board was making the country’s constitution.

Senator Syed Dilawar Abbas, specially invited to attend the meeting asked what was the PCB’s logic behind hiring Jonty Rhodes as a fielding coach for only two weeks.

But Shaharyar explained that the players and coaches had benefited immensely from the South African.

“We thought it was better to have him come over for two weeks rather than not have him at all.”

He told the house that the preparations for next year’s World Cup were well on track and the PCB was adopting the policy of continuity, stability and security.

Under coach Bob Woolmer and captain Inzamamul Haq, the Pakistan team had developed a winning habit, he pointed out.

He said that every possible effort was being made to make the players' stay during the World Cup comfortable. “We will even be sending a cook along with the team.”

Meanwhile Baig also questioned PCB’s contract with a Singapore-based company worth Rs530 million for five series. “When one single series in 2004 with India went for Rs430 million why have five been given away for only Rs530 million,” he asked.

The PCB was asked to provide details of the contract by Monday.