LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has initiated a probe into some three-dozen appointments in violation of rules in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The agency has also summoned two top officials in connection with reported ‘illegalities and misappropriation of funds’ in four projects of the PCB.

“We have initiated a probe into some three-dozen appointments, mostly on high perks, in violation of the rules in the PCB. Besides, PCB chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed and chief financial officer Badar Manzoor have been summoned to record their statements in alleged wrongdoings in four projects — establishment of a bio-mechanical laboratory at Gaddafi Stadium, construction of Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Stadium in Larkana, Cricket Academy in Multan and Far End Pavilion at Gaddafi Stadium,” an FIA official told Dawn on Wednesday.

The FIA has detected a Rs8.6 million fake bank guarantee furnished by a contractor of the Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Stadium project allegedly with the connivance of PCB officials.

“We have verified the record and the fake bank guarantee in this project has been proved,” a source said.

Similarly, in the Cricket Academy project mobilisation cost (Rs5.6m) was paid additionally to the contractor and in the Far End Pavilion project (Gaddafi Stadium) excessive payment allegedly made to the contractor in violation of rules, he said, adding the PCB officials summoned would have to clarify on these irregularities.

The FIA will also seek explanation from the PCB officials regarding delay in installation of the bio-mechanical laboratory that caused a loss of millions of rupees.

PCB spokesman Raza Kitchlew told Dawn that the two top PCB officials had received the summons and they would appear before the FIA next week as at present they were in Multan for official engagements.

He said the PCB had already provided relevant information and documents to the FIA with regard to these projects as no illegality or wrongdoing had been committed on the part of the PCB.

Raza further said the complainant, the contractor of the case, had already withdrawn his complaint. Regarding hiring of three-dozen people in violation of the rules, the spokesman said: “Not a single person has been hired in PCB in violation of rules as its boards approves the hiring.”

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2016