ISLAMABAD: The Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday made it clear that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is answerable to the committee which is the apex accountability forum of the country.

At the outset, PCB chairman Ehsan Mani contested that the Board is autonomous.

However, the Auditor General of Pakistan Revenues (AGPR) as well as the parliamentarians ruled the otherwise.

Following the PAC meeting, Senator Sherry Rehman tweeted, “In Public Accounts Committee the PCB Chairman is unable to respond to any query, saying that he is “autonomous”, evoking a storm of questions and rejoinders. AGPR and I informed him he is answerable to govt, it’s accounting procedures and therefore it’s rules! It is NOT above law.”

The PAC was convened under the chairmanship of Rana Tanvir Hussain. The committee examined the audit paras of the PCB for the financial year 2018-19.

The audit authorities informed the court that due to Covid-19, the audit of the accounts related to PSL-4 has been delayed. However, they said that the audit has now resumed.

According to the audit authorities, the PCB did not share the financial reports of PSL-1 and PSL-2 adding that PSL franchises also went in litigation with the PCB in the Lahore High Court.

Mani said the Board is answerable to the PAC and he himself presided the departmental accounts committee.

The committee expressed its displeasure over the PCB chairman’s non-preparedness and suggested him to get briefing from the chief financial officer before attending the meeting.

The PAC also asked Mani to submit a comprehensive report related to the financial matters of the PCB.

Published in Dawn, October 1st , 2020