The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB’s) challenge to the Pakistan Information Commission’s disclosure orders (suspended by Islamabad High Court) raises questions that go well beyond the particulars of this case. At issue is the balance between legitimate claims of commercial confidentiality and the equally legitimate public interest in ensuring accountability in institutions that perform public functions.
The PCB has argued that it is not a government department and therefore cannot be subjected to the same standards of disclosure. It points out that it receives no financial support from the federal government or the Consolidated Fund, relying instead on revenues generated through broadcasting rights, sponsorships, gate receipts, licensing agreements and distributions from the International Cricket Council.
Mehdi Hasan, Karachi
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026