PCB Chief Shahryar Khan Courts Controversy Over Daily Allowance in UK

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shahryar Khan finds himself embroiled in a fresh controversy, this time over the expenses the cricket board is incurring on his ongoing visit to the United Kingdom.

The million dollar question these days in Pakistan cricket is not about how the national team will far in the Test series in England but about whether Shahryar is getting 1300 pounds as daily allowance for his visit to the UK.

The controversy has erupted after first it was reported that Khan, a former career diplomat who belongs to the noble royal family of Bhopal, had gone to the UK for vacation.

Later it transpired he was also conducting official business raising the question whether he was utilising the 1300 pounds daily allowance for his entire stay in UK which would amount to roughly around 39,000 pounds for 30 days in UK.

As a result the PCB has had to issue two press releases to clarify the purpose and status of Khan's visit to the UK and the benefits he is drawing from the board for the tour.

On Sunday the PCB clarified that Shahryar does not draw any salary for his work as Chairman PCB and that for his ongoing tour of UK his expenses on travel and stay during the ICC annual meetings was borne by the ICC.

The PCB issued the releases after stories in the Pakistani media about the lavish spending of the board officials when they claim the board is cash strapped.

A report in the daily Jang said that Shahryar as Chairman was entitled to a daily allowance of 1300 pounds approximately during his stay in UK.

But the board clarified: "Contrary to what the news report has claimed, Chairman Shahryar Khan is not receiving PKR 200,000 (1300 pounds) as daily allowance.

"Chairman PCB doesn't have any transport at his disposal and is using taxis for travel and is making his own accommodation in UK."

A breakdown of the 1300 pounds daily allowance is 500 pounds allowance, 600 pounds for hotelling an 200 pounds for travel costs.

The PCB said Khan was a guest of the ICC from June 27 to July 3.

This has now led to the question what about Khan's expenses after the ICC meetings since he intends to return home in third week of July.

But the board clarified that Khan was in England to also meet with MCC and ECB officials and have meetings with the national team, A team and national women's team currently all touring England.

"While Chairman PCB is entitled to a daily allowance for his official work, he only charges this allowance on days when he is on PCB business," the release said.

"It is incorrect to assume that PCB will be paying Chairman PCB's daily allowances for the entire duration of the tour," the release added.