NA body member for probe into Pak players’ participation in Indian league

KARACHI: Member Standing Committee of the National Assembly for Sports Iqbal Muhammad Ali has asked Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to get audit of first edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL) and carry out impartial investigation into the participation of Pakistani players in the controversial T10 League.

Iqbal Muhammad Ali, in his two letters written to prime minister, said that he had asked the patron in-chief of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to launch investigation against PCB Chairman Najam Sethi on irregularities done in the Board. He said that if he (Najam Sethi) was fond of issuing statements then he should step into politics by quitting the cricket board. He said that he had been asking questions from cricket board for last the six months but did not get any response yet. He said that Najam Sethi issued statements repeatedly for the media that he had carried out audit of both the PSL, but no action was taken on his application.

The MNA said that he had met Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah in his chamber and asked him that he wanted answer to his questions. He said that PCB silence is giving rise to doubts.

He said that issuing of NoC to Pakistani players to take part in T10 League was a conspiracy as this league is not recognised by the International Cricket Council (ICC0. He said that several reservations have emerged due to involvement of Indians in this league. He said that it was ridiculous to allow Pakistani players to participate in this league as India had refused to play cricket, hockey and Kabaddi with Pakistan.

Iqbal Muhammad Ali asked in the letter that how much income was generated form first edition of PSL, how much expenditure incurred on five franchises, how many MPs, journalists and others were invited by the board as guests. He said that NA should be informed about all these details.

He asked Najam Sethi to quit as he brought cricket at the brink of disaster due to his wrong policies.