Samiul Hasan: PCB officials accused of demanding 'cut' (6 Sep 1997)

06 September 1997

PCB officials accused of demanding 'cut'

Samiul Hasan

KARACHI, Sept 5: In one of the biggest financial scandals involving the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), three of its officials were accused of demanding kickbacks in a financial deal estimated to be around Rs 10 million.

One of the three officials was PCB Secretary, Waqar Ahmad, it was alleged. However, when the 'commission' was declined by a representative of a multinational company, Waqar Ahmad and his two companions advised the PCB chief executive, Majid Khan, to end the 10-year-old working relationship with Adamjee Insurance Company. EFU, another multinational insurance company, was awarded the contract.

S.M Aslam Khan, Deputy Manager (Development), Adamjee Insurance Company, alleged that Waqar Ahmad and his other two colleagues had demanded a kickback of 22% from an outstanding premium of Rs 1,167,050 which the PCB had been delaying since March this year.

"On June 25, I was directed by Majid Khan (PCB chief executive), to talk to a committee which was formed by him. During the course of the meeting apart from technical points of the insurance policies, they (committee members) insisted that how much rebate or commission I could offer them," Aslam Khan alleged.

Aslam states that according to the demand of 22% from the pending claim of Rs 1,167,050, the committee was to get approximately Rs 215,000. Aslam continued saying that when he refused to accept their claim, they (committee members) said they would invite other insurance companies "and whichever insurance company will offer them the best rate of commission, they would consider that." "I must tell you here that no insurance company can give you rebate because it is forbidden legally," Aslam pointed out.

Aslam further alleged that the PCB officials wanted him to issue a cover note for the players, National and Qadhafi Stadia and Cricket House for a year which he did. Aslam emphasised that once a cover note was issued, the establishment stood committed with the insurance company. "The insurance company, on the other hand, stood committed to cover the risk."

"On May 22, I went off the way to get the cover note for the players, stadia and Cricket House. Normally, we don't issue cover notes without payment but in their (PCB) case, we did it considering our old relationship with them besides they (PCB) being a reliable organisation," Aslam said. "Majid Khan could neither take a stand for a firm decision on his honourable commitment nor he understood the commercial implications of a cover note," he added.

Aslam said the players and stadia cover was for a year. He added that the PCB used to issue them a programme of the team's international commitments but the players were endorsed accordingly because some were retained and some dropped. Aslam admitted that a claim was filed by the PCB but it was not honoured because the premium was not paid. "Inzamamul Haq was injured in Sri Lanka and the PCB filed a claim but was rejected outright because no premium was paid. Had the premium been submitted, Inzamam would have got the match fee which he couldn't because he was not insured."

Aslam also cited an example of Tauseef Ahmad whose Rs 50,000 medical expenses were paid by his insurance company as the player was comprehensively insured.

A detailed report with documentary evidence has been dispatched to the Patron of the PCB, President Farooq Ahmad Khan. "I have nothing to hide and want to keep the President informed about the corruption which has started creeping in the PCB," said Aslam Khan.

Efforts were made to contact the PCB officials, for their version, but none was available for comment.

Source:: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)