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THE Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is playing a very sensitive game of maligning Patron-in-Chief of the PCB by misinforming the general public of it's financial wrongdoings.

Dawn carried a story on the financial mismanagement in the PCB on July 5, 2002, bringing out some facts to limelight. The PCB through it's Media Manager, tried to misguide the public by totally giving false information, forgetting that his statement will directly or indirectly bring the patron of PCB into some controversy. But showing total disregard to the patron, the PCB showed guts to contradict the story.

Dawn has received photo copy of the letter sent by the Manager Finance, Mushtaq Ahmad, which itself explains the whole truth. Dawn carried the story that the CBFS had not paid even appearance money for the last two events.

It was just a strange coincidence that just on July 4, 2002, a day earlier than the story appeared, the Manager Finance sent a letter to the CBFS urging them to arrange immediate payment of US$919,032 which was outstanding against them.

The Finance Manager also sought clarification of the amount charged by the CBFS for arranging the Pakistan-West Indies series which was beyond imagination. The clarification was sought on the expenses incurred such as: Visa fee $41250, One would like to know how many people went to Sharjah on PCB account.

The CBFS charged the PCB an amount of $247,500/- as hotel accommodation for the Test series duration.

The PCB letter shows that the CBFS owes 1,319,032 out of which the PCB received $200,000 from the CBFS and another $200,000 from the Ten Sports. How the PCB got any amount from Ten Sports is anybody's guess as, it has no official link with it till March 2003, when the PCB's contract with TWI expires.

The PCB Media Manager claimed that there is total transparency in finalising the bid for fresh contract. How then, Ten Sports has figured in financial dealing with the PCB is anybody's guess.

The PCB clarification had claimed that the accounts of the board were audited by renowned accounting firms till 2000-2001.

If the claim of the PCB has any credibility can it justify the letter of the Manager Finance has taken into account the travel expenses of PCB officials for April 2001 which shows that the CBFS spent US$1457 the travel of Mr Mohammad Bashir to Morocco and travelling expenses of Mr and Mrs Zakir Hussain Syed. One wonders since when employees wife have become entitled to travel on organisations expenses.

It will be better if the PCB puts it's house in order and atleast save the patron from such controversies with which he has nothing to do. He is simply figure head of the PCB by the virtue of his office.

The PCB will do well by trusting people of integrity which is of great significance in promoting the credibility of the institution and should avoid mud slinging. Only men who have no credentials, try such methods to cover up their misdeeds.

© Dawn