Put ex-PCB boss Naseem Ashraf's name on ECL: Pak parliamentary committee

Karachi, Mar.23 (ANI): A Pakistan parliamentary committee has recommended putting former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Naseem Ashraf's name on the Exit Control List (ECL), as he is facing charges of mismanagement of millions of rupees.

An audit report had revealed financial irregularities in the board's accounts amounting to a whopping 500 million rupees during 2003 to 2008, the period during which Ashraf headed the PCB.

Commenting on the massive embezzlement of funds in the board, PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said the board has handed over the issue to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), and would accept whatever decision it takes.

"The AG's report is an eye-opener and obviously it talks about lot of money so we have left the matter in the hands of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)," The Dawn quoted Butt, as saying.

The audit report said that the PCB, which has long been crying over its sagging financial accounts, paid an additional bonus of 90 million rupees to its employees during the said period against the board's laws.

It also pointed out that Shafqat Naghmi was appointed as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the board bypassing the formal channels, and that the National Assembly was kept in the dark about his appointment.

Naghmi was paid 10.07 million rupees as salary and other benefits during his tenure, the report said.

It further disclosed that eight senior officials were paid 10.28 million rupees 'illegally' during the ICC Champions Trophy in 2008. (ANI)