PSL: PCB incurs loss in millions due to irregularities in the first two seasons

The popular Pakistan Super League (PSL) has been marred by quite a bit of controversies ever since its inception. The shambolic spot-fixing scandal back in 2017, which saw a number of cricketers getting banned, including the likes of Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif, is an open secret now. Of late, another development surrounding the cash-rich T20 tournament has come to the fore.

It has been learned that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has incurred losses in million and it is due to the first two PSL editions. In a special audit report of the first two PSL seasons, Auditor General of Pakistan has put forth irregular payments to franchises, irregular advance payment to vendors, non-recovery of due from franchise, TA/DA to journalists and the members of Board of Governors.

PCB didn’t recover from the franchises the amounts due worth Rs 32.050 million

According to reports in The Dawn, the country’s cricket board had to face a loss of a stunning 248.615 million due to irregular payments to franchises in excess of agreed share of central pool. It’s been known that the PCB faced loss due to irregular award of compensation to the PSL franchises of Rs 54.490 million while unjustified auction of franchise caused loss of $11 million.

The report was presented before Pakistan National Assembly on Monday, September 16. Furthermore, in the audit report, it was stated that the PCB didn’t recover from the franchises the amounts due worth Rs 32.050 million and that there were irregular and excess expenditure on production of the PSL 2 Final without proper estimation of Rs 18.880 million.

The report of the Auditor General has also claimed the PCB has made unauthorised and unlawful transfer of PSL funds of Rs 145.148 million into third party bank accounts outside Pakistan. Owing to the non-auction of commercial broadcast rights, the PCB suffered a huge loss of Rs 13 million.

As far as action on the field is concerned, Quetta Gladiators, led by Sarfaraz Ahmed, won the championship for the maiden time. They beat the Peshawar Zalmi in the final at the National Stadium in Karachi by eight wickets. Mohammad Hasnain became the Player of the Final.

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