FIA investigates PCB officials suspected of embezzling PSL tickets

LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) launched an investigation into suspected misappropriation of ticket sales by officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and international cricket matches.

According to sources, the investigation was initiated following complaints of misappropriation of ticket sales by some PCB officials.

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The investigation will specifically focus on reported irregularities in ticket sales processes, with allegations of misappropriation of substantial sums of money. FIA officials in Lahore summoned a person to “provide a statement” in connection with the investigation.

All ticket records have been seized as part of the inquiry.

The former PCB chairman Najam Sethi took to social media to reveal that the FIA conducted a raid at the cricket board’s office and detained the Head of E-Ticketing by claiming embezzlement of Rs80,000 from e-ticketing sales of PSL.

Najam Sethi posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to voice his “concerns” over what he sees as mistreatment of PCB staff during the raid. He accused the FIA officers of misbehaviour.

Sethi stated that the e-ticketing head’s role was important in managing the growth of PSL and handling e-ticketing sales during the return of international cricket to Pakistan. The former chairman declared the accusations against the arrested head as “unfounded”. He cited the substantial revenue generated through PSL ticket sales as proof of no embezzlement.

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He pointed out that the accusation of embezzlement was made by a ticketing company that lost the contract to handle online ticket sales after a transparent bidding process conducted by PCB. Sethi called on the current PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi to investigate the issue.