ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: Muhammad Naeem, the former treasurer of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) who made startling disclosures of financial irregularities in the organisation, wants President Gen. Pervez Musharraf to intervene and order a high level inquiry.

Naeem told Dawn on Thursday that the need of the hour was for the PCB Patron Gen Musharraf to take cognizance of this "serious matter" and order an independent inquiry into the conduct and management of the financial affairs of the board.

He termed PCB's statement on his resignation as an attempt to confuse the public by discussing irrelevant issues. Naeem had resigned on May 13 after being in office for over four years. His resignation was accepted on Wednesday, more than three months after it was submitted.

"In my letter of resignation, I spoke about lack of transparency and financial probity in expenditures, contracts and deals involving various local companies," Naeem pointed out.

He said that all such deals and contracts for the India series were negotiated and finalised by the PCB chief executive without involvement of the treasurer and the Tender Committee.

"No bids or tenders were invited for anything and PCB's claim that shortage of time prevented them, is a lame excuse." Naeem felt that if large and expensive committees could be appointed for deals with foreign parties, why could the same procedure not be adopted for local contracts.

"Not a single meeting of the tender committee and the resource management committee was ever held during the entire period." Naeem dismissed Shahryar's claim that he had unconditionally withdrawn his resignation at one stage. "It would indeed be most illogical for me to first make such serious allegations and then to withdraw everything."

"I did indicate on May 19 to withdraw my resignation provided the chairman reactivated various committees and involved me in all financial matters in order to ensure transparency and financial probity."

The chairman, he said, had agreed on more than one occasion to take necessary action but regrettably failed to act as promised. "On his return from London, the chairman did indicate his desire to nominate me on the Asian Cricket Council's Finance Committee but I decided not to pursue the matter as I sensed it as a reward."

But Naeem said that if the slot had been offered to him on merit, he would expect the chairman to stick with the offer. "I will certainly consider serving on the ACC as part of national duty."