KARACHI, Aug 23: Former treasurer of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Muhammad Naeem, on Monday issued counter rebuttal as per the PCB official's allegations levelled against him.

"I have read PCB official's counter allegations against me," he said. "Although his name is not mentioned in the story but I presume it is Abbas Zaidi, a close family friend of the PCB chairman, who has been inducted as de facto CEO since June, 2004 without any transparent process of interview or scrutiny by any committee," he added.

"Being a new arrival Mr Zaidi is short on facts. It is very unfortunate that he is dragging the name of Mr Riaz Mahmood into the controversy. "Mr Mahmood's personal and professional standing and integrity is impeccable. He or any other consultant is not the issue," he maintained.

"It is the lack of transparency and non observance of laid down procedures by PCB in hiring and selection of personnel," Naeem further said. "As far as question of commission payable on the value of contracts is concerned, let PCB release a copy of the relevant contract to the press to establish the true position" he observed.

Regarding payments to him from Asian Cricket Council (ACC), Naeem claims: "ACC is an independent and multinational body and its financial matters do not fall in PCB's jurisdiction.

"More than two years back ACC management was taken over by Bangladesh and is now with India. For keeping the record straight, a similar payment was made to two office bearers of ACC which were duly authorized and approved.

"In fact two Pakistanis, now working for ACC, are drawing approximately Rs3.600 million and Rs2.400 million per annum for the last many years in addition to TA/DA," Naeem revealed.

"As far as opening of ACC bank account in Singapore is concerned no such account exists and let PCB official disclose the details of any such account," he maintained. He welcomed the decision of the PCB, as reported in the press, for investigation of financial affairs of Pakistan-India series through NAB. -APP