Pakistan Sports Board bans six netball officials over unaccounted Rs 65 million grants

By Alam Zeb Safi
LAHORE: Pakistan’s Sports Board (PSB) on Friday imposed bans on six former office bearers of the Pakistan Netball Federation (PNF) for failing to submit financial adjustment accounts for government grants totaling Rs. 65 million released during fiscal years 2022–23 and 2023–24, according to an official order issued by the Board.
The PSB said it had disbursed Rs. 32 million to the federation in FY 2022–23 and Rs. 33 million in FY 2023–24 but had not received complete adjustment accounts, including original receipts, vouchers, invoices, audited statements and bank records, despite repeated reminders.
In an order dated Dec. 26, 2025, the Board stated that it had issued multiple notices to the federation between September 2024 and December 2025, directing it to provide documentary evidence explaining the utilisation of the funds. The notices included communications dated Sept. 3 and Sept. 16, 2024, Aug. 29, 2025, and a final warning issued on Dec. 18, 2025.
The PSB said the federation failed to comply even after being granted what it described as “sufficient time” and after being clearly warned that non-compliance could lead to punitive action, including suspension of affiliation and proceedings against responsible officials.
The federation, in a reply dated Dec. 23, 2025, claimed it had already submitted a detailed response on Sept. 12, 2025, through courier and email. It also argued that the Pakistan Sports Board’s constitution did not explicitly authorise the Board to demand financial records in the manner sought and requested that the matter be closed.
However, the PSB rejected the federation’s position, calling it “untenable and misconceived,” and cited specific provisions of its constitution to justify its actions. The Board said Rule 13(8) empowers the Director General of the PSB to inspect and call for accounts and records of national sports federations, while Rule 20(11) obligates federations to maintain audited accounts and produce them whenever required by the government.
“The obligation to ensure financial transparency and produce original records is mandatory and not subject to selective interpretation,” the order said, adding that the continued failure to provide documentation constituted a violation of the Board’s rules.
As a result, the PSB imposed bans on six officials who were in office at the time the grants were sought and utilised. Those banned are former president Mudasar Razak Arain, former secretary general Syed Gohar Raza, former associate secretaries Qurat-ul-Ain, Tanveer Ahmed and Muhammad Riaz, and former treasurer Sohail Ahmad.
Under the order, the banned officials are prohibited from participating in or associating with any sports-related activity at the national or international level, seeking funds or facilities, or holding any position in organisations recognised by the Pakistan Sports Board.
The PSB also directed the current office bearers of the Pakistan Netball Federation to submit complete original financial records for the period from July 1, 2022, to Dec. 24, 2025, within seven days. Failure to comply could lead to further action, including life bans on current officials, suspension of the federation’s affiliation, and closure of its bank accounts, the Board said.
The Board added that the bans could be reviewed or revoked if the federation submits complete adjustment accounts justifying the utilisation of the Rs. 65 million in grants.
The order is appealable within 30 days under Rule 23 of the PSB Constitution 2022 and relevant provisions of the Pakistan Code of Ethics and Governance in Sports.
The decision was issued with the approval of the Director General of the Pakistan Sports Board and has been circulated to all national and provincial sports bodies, government departments with sports directorates, and national sports federations.