Islamabad, 11 Apr, 2025: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) faces renewed scrutiny over fresh corruption and mismanagement claims made on Samaa TV.
Senior sports journalist Shahid Hashmi levelled the accusations, citing examples that have raised new concerns over the internal operations of PCB.
The renowned journalist claimed that basic stadium maintenance needs were being neglected despite allocated budgets.
He highlighted a striking example from Rawalpindi, where the curator reportedly had to sell his personal motorbike to buy fertilisers for pitch upkeep.
Shahid Hashmi further added that funds had been approved but were left untouched, buried in bureaucratic red tape.
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Describing another incident from Karachi, he said staff were forced to pool money to buy a piece of cotton cloth required for watering the pitch.
The cloth, Shahid Hashmi claimed, was eventually sourced from behind the National Stadium in Karachi due to a lack of official support.
Hashmi also raised questions about the use of funds meant for the ICC 2025 Champions Trophy, which was recently held in Pakistan.
He alleged that no structured planning had been carried out despite the budget being received.
He criticized the board for poor pitch preparation and scheduling, accusing officials of avoiding their responsibilities.
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These revelations come at a difficult time for the PCB, especially for Mohsin Naqvi, as pressure mounts following the poor performance of the team.
Despite hosting the tournament, Pakistan failed to progress beyond the group stage, finishing last after losses to New Zealand and India.
India’s decision to play all their matches in Dubai due to political tensions further added to the controversy, with half-empty stadiums.
With these new allegations, the Pakistan Cricket Board faces increasing calls for transparency and accountability.
