FEDERAL BUREAU OF REVENUE ASKS PAKISTANI CRICKETERS TO PAY TAX DUES

The Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) has asked several Pakistani cricketers, including skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, to submit their tax dues as soon as possible.

FBR has also made it clear that they will take strict actions against players who are found of shirking taxes.Pakistan’s FBR found discrepancies in tax returns of certain cricketers. The tally of actual income didn’t coincide with the figures mentioned in documents submitted to the tax department.

According to a senior officer of FBR, “All income tax returns filed by the cricket team were audited and it was found that most of the cricketers had huge discrepancies between their actual incomes and figures given on tax documents.”   

Misbah’s name in the list came out as a surprise to cricket fans all over Pakistan. However, a credible source close to the skipper turned downed the FBR’s claims. The source held firm that there must have been a mix-up in the system because Misbah was put in the wrong category of players by the FBR.

The source also announced that the skipper of Pakistan’s national side will file a reply to FBR after consulting with his lawyer. He also hoped that the issue will be resolved without gathering much hype.

"It is not an issue. There was a misunderstanding because of which Misbah was issued the notice. The department issued notice by considering him (the player) in the wrong category. Misbah will (file a) reply through his lawyers and the matter would be resolved soon," claimed the source.

Imran Nazir, the explosive top order batsman of Pakistan team, is also included in the list of players who have been notified by FBR.

Traditionally, Pakistani cricketers have had received income tax exemptions from FBR. This exemption was withheld a few years back and the current chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board, Ijaz Butt, has been busy in making an attempt to restore the grant to cricketers.

PCB chairman appealed to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, to reinstate the exemption.

Currently, the Pakistani cricketers have a long lay-off before their tour of Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean series will comprise of two Tests and three ODI’s, scheduled to be played in September.