Ehsan Mani faces tough questions in PAC meeting

The Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ehsan Mani had to face tough questions in the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting, which was held on Wednesday.

According to sources, the members expressed anger over the audit reports of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) one and two. The meeting was headed by Member National Assembly (MNA) Rana Tanveer Hussain in Islamabad.

Mani claimed that he was not aware of the matters related to the audit during the meeting. Responding to this, Senator Sherry Rehman asked who had the knowledge about these matters if not the Chairman of the PCB itself.

MNA Shaikh Rohale Asghar asked Mani to list down the matters he was aware of so that he could be asked questions accordingly, while MNA Iqbal Mohammad Ali stated that PSL 5 was filled with massive irregularities.

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According to sources, the committee was told that an audit of PSL 5 will take place next month. The committee has directed the PCB to submit a special report in the next meeting.

Later, Senator Sherry Rehman criticised the PCB after the meeting in a Tweet claiming that the PCB Chairman was not able to answer any queries.

“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 [Accountant General Pakistan Revenues] and I informed him he is answerable to govt, it’s accounting procedures and therefore it’s rules! It is NOT above law,” Rehman tweeted.

Mani, after the meeting, while speaking to reporters admitted that there were financial irregularities in the first couple of editions of PSL.

“There indeed were financial irregularities in PSL 1 and 2 but this matter is with the committee now,” said Mani. “This matter will be investigated. Whatever the truth may be, will be revealed.”