Journalist claims curator had to sell personal motorbike for pitch upkeep; PCB denies wrongdoing despite national team’s poor show and rising criticism over tournament mismanagement.
April 12, 2025: Amid an already volatile phase following Pakistan’s dismal performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) now finds itself at the center of corruption and mismanagement allegations.
Veteran journalist Shahid Hashmi made startling claims on Samaa TV, alleging that financial negligence by PCB forced the pitch curator at Rawalpindi Stadium to sell his motorbike just to buy fertilisers needed for ground maintenance.
“Fertilisers were needed at Rawalpindi Stadium. The budget request was sent to the PCB but was buried in files. The curator had no option but to sell his own motorbike,” Hashmi said.
In another troubling revelation, he added that staff at Karachi’s National Stadium had to personally pool money to buy basic pitch maintenance materials like cotton covers.
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Despite these claims, the PCB has dismissed the allegations, asserting that the Champions Trophy was entirely managed by the ICC, and that there were no budget overruns. The board further stated that it had earned PKR 3 billion from hosting the tournament—a billion more than its target.
“The PCB undergoes two independent audits annually. The current fiscal year audit will happen post-June 30, 2025,” the board noted in a statement.
However, the timing of these revelations—coinciding with Pakistan’s early exit from the tournament and rising public dissatisfaction—has put the PCB’s internal functioning under fresh scrutiny, especially concerning domestic pitch scheduling, weather preparedness, and resource allocation.
Tags: PCB corruption, Champions Trophy 2025, Shahid Hashmi allegations, Rawalpindi pitch scandal, Pakistan cricket mismanagement, PCB financial audit, Pakistan vs ICC, curator sells bike, Karachi stadium mismanagement, cricket controversies Pakistan