Lahore, Sep.8 (ANI): In an apparent bid to clear itself from all the alleged irregularities which were disclosed during the recent audit, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has blamed the previous management of Dr Nasim Ashraf and Shaharyar Khan for all the wrongdoings.

A statement released by the PCB said that chairman Ijaz Butt was not answerable to the queries of the Auditor General, as the audit was carried out for the last years and Butt has taken over the control of the board only in October 2008.

“It is correct that the Auditor General carried out an audit of PCB for a period of five years ended on June 30. But Ijaz Butt took over as Chairman in October, 2008. The period of audit, therefore, related to previous administration of Dr. Nasim Ashraf and Mr. Shaharyar Khan. All the observations in audit reports need to be answered by previous chairmen and have nothing to do with the current Chairman,” the statement said.

The statement said that some of the irregularities mentioned in the audit report were ‘very serious’ and if these are correctly reproduced then immediate and urgent action needs to be taken against the concerned officials of the previous administration, The Nation reports.

Referring to the TV rights issue, the board said the rights were awarded through an international bidding process which was monitored by an international firm of accountants.

“The highest bidder was awarded the contract and the lowest bidders, are agitating and leveling allegations against the PCB,” the statement said. (ANI)