The Rescission at PCB

It was year 2007 when we landed in Qaddafi Stadium with a mandate to re-engineer Pakistan Cricket Board on corporate lines. I was interested to do an in-depth HR Audit and put up recommendation in light of the findings. Pakistan Cricket Board, as I recall, presented itself like a huge onion, covered by thick tunic. Tunic beyond removed we started peeling layer after layer and as expected it was rotten to the core.

It was during the course of the audit that we stumbled upon some startling information, PCB had capital assets worth hundreds of millions of Rupees lying all over the cricket stadiums and grounds across the country. Equally startling was the find that Regional Cricket Tournaments in 11 Regions were funded by PCB. However, the shocking revelation was the fact that the funds required to hold these tournaments were sent to personal accounts of Regional Cricket Associations’ officials. Similarly, each year PCB sends Cricket gear and equipment worth millions of Rupees for Clubs and schools in all the regions, however, we could not find any documented Standard Operating Procedures, vis-à-vis, distribution mechanism. The goods were simply packed and shipped to the Regional Offices and little was known about its dispensation. There were whispers about mass irregularities in payment of Daily Allowances to the players by the Regional officials, and dubious procurement regime for material purchased for the tournaments. No one at Qaddafi Stadium had any idea, what was being purchased prior to the tournament and its disposal afterwards. Apparently, there was some collusion between the PCB Domestic Cricket Department and Regional Offices, therefore these anomalies were never highlighted!

The remedy to address these issues was simple: setting up of a Material Management Department with the appointment of Stores/Procurement Officers in each region. Highly qualified personnel with relevant experience in corporate sector were hired for those positions.  To address the fund management issue, PCB opened up its own Bank Accounts in all Regions and an account officer was appointed. In order to ensure proper checks and balances, co-signatories, one from Regional Office and PCB’s Regional Accountant were nominated for bank withdrawals. In less than three months a complete stock-taking was conducted all over Pakistan and all the items were inventoried. Regional Accountants were tasked to undertake TA/DA payments under their supervision with proper documentation. All material sent to Regions for distribution amongst clubs and schools was inventoried at receipt, and distribution was supervised by PCB Stores/Procurement officers. All procurement was jointly undertaken by a representative of the Region and PCB Procurement Officer in line with the provision of Procurement Policy that was put in place for all procurements in PCB.

This initiative to systemize matter related to funds was lauded by the PCB Governing Board, especially by the then Head of Board’s Audit Committee, Ejaz Butt. The whispers about misuse of funds and misappropriation died down and the feedback was very positive. The first audit report issued by external auditors following these developments contained a congratulatory note on the new system, placement of personnel and Procurement Policy. That reminds of an anecdote that happened the very first week after I joined PCB. As was leaving for home, someone who shall remain nameless whispered in my ear, “Sir jee samaan dicky wich rakkwa deta aye” (Sir the goods are in the trunk of the car) I was a bit taken aback as I recalled I had not asked for any ‘samaan’. I immediately popped the trunk open, and to surprise it was full of bottled water and beverages. As I looked at the gentleman, he politely said, ‘not to worry sir, it is customary’. (Under agreement with Pepsi, PCB gets a certain number of water bottles and beverages at no cost) Needless to say what ensued! At the inception of Materials Department, the first thing that was inventoried was water and beverages!

Then there was regime change both in Islamabad and at Qaddafi Stadium. Most of us were either sent packing or opted to leave. That was the beginning of an end. In months to follow, nepotism, mayhem, recklessness and total disregard to logic would prevail in Qaddafi stadium corridors of power. The newly appointed Chairman who once heralded the improvement made in the system would succumb to pressure from the Regional Heads, in particular a powerful Regional Head who was also a Board member, and Regional set ups were winded up. Twenty-odd qualified professional woke up one fine day to find out that they are out of the job of no fault of their own. They had fallen victims to age old corrupt mindset that has plagued this national institution for a very long time. Ejaz Butt may not be remembered for anything spectacular he has done during his tenure as Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board, but he surely would be remembered for the person who was having breakfast when Sri Lankan team was being attacked, and on a lesser note a Chairman who facilitated return of crooked practices in the system!