When Cricketers Tried Their Luck as Investors

 

Extraordinary Profits, Ordinary Silence, and a Very Pakistani Ending

Musarrat Ullah Jan ,KiKxNow , Digital Creator

In Pakistan, cricket is not just a sport. It is an emotion, an industry, and for some, a shortcut to believing they can win every game life throws at them. Unfortunately, the latest story coming out of cricket circles has nothing to do with cover drives or reverse swing. It is about crores of rupees, unbelievable profit promises, and a silence so loud it raises more questions than answers.

According to sources, several former and current Pakistani cricketers have fallen victim to a large-scale alleged financial fraud. The amount involved runs into crores. The surprising part is not that a fraud happened. The surprising part is that no formal complaint has been filed anywhere. Not with the police, not with the FIA, not with NAB, and not even with the Pakistan Cricket Board. For a country where a dropped catch becomes a national debate, this level of quiet is remarkable.

The story reportedly began with a former national captain who invested money with a businessperson. The details of the business were apparently less important than the returns being promised. Soon after, other cricketers followed. Some invested directly, some through personal connections, and some simply because if a captain is doing it, it must be safe. This is how investment decisions are often made in Pakistan. Due diligence is optional. Familiar faces are mandatory.

What was being offered was nothing short of magical. Unusually high profits, delivered quickly, with minimal explanation. It sounded less like a business model and more like a highlight reel. Yet, instead of asking basic questions about registration, risk, and source of income, crores were handed over with impressive confidence. Financial advisors were nowhere to be seen. Common sense was clearly resting.

To make the story more convincing, the profits did arrive in the beginning. Money came in, confidence grew, and belief turned into certainty. Screenshots of transfers became proof that this was not just another too-good-to-be-true scheme. In Pakistan, the first payout is often the most dangerous moment, because that is when skepticism officially retires.

The businessperson disappeared. Phones were switched off. Messages went unanswered. The extraordinary profits stopped completely. For the past two months, no returns have been received. After a few weeks of chasing and confusion, the mindset shifted from chasing profit to simply asking for the original investment back. That, too, has proven impossible.

Sources say that some cricketers managed to recover a portion of their money, possibly early enough to escape the worst damage. Most, however, are still waiting. Adding another layer to the embarrassment is the fact that a well-known cricket agent is also among those who lost money. Agents, who normally scrutinize contracts line by line, appear to have trusted this deal far more than they trust board clauses.

The alleged fraudster is said to be based in the United States and had friendly relations with several Pakistani cricketers. That personal connection seems to have played a decisive role. Friendship replaced verification. Trust replaced paperwork. In Pakistan, a familiar face often carries more weight than legal documentation.

 

The real question is not where the businessperson is. The real question is why basic questions were never asked. What exactly was the business? Where was it registered? How were such high returns being generated? And if it was so profitable, why was it limited to a small circle of cricketers? These questions usually appear only after the money is gone.

The most striking aspect of this entire episode remains the silence. Despite the scale of the alleged fraud and the high-profile names involved, no one has gone public. No legal route has been taken. No official platform has been approached. This silence suggests deeper fears. Reputation. Tax implications. Unwanted scrutiny. In Pakistan, many victims of white-collar fraud choose silence because speaking up often invites more trouble than the fraud itself.

The Pakistan Cricket Board, interestingly, is also not part of this conversation. Players reportedly did not approach the PCB for help or guidance. This raises concerns about the absence of any institutional framework to advise or protect players in financial matters. If national cricketers are left to navigate complex investments based on friendships and WhatsApp conversations, the system has clearly failed them.

There is also a broader lesson here about celebrity culture. Successful athletes often assume that confidence in sport automatically translates into wisdom in business. It does not. Risk on the field is calculated. Risk in finance requires a completely different skill set. Unfortunately, fame often attracts the wrong kind of opportunity, presented in the right kind of packaging.

Unusual profit is always a warning sign. In mature financial systems, it triggers audits and questions. In Pakistan, it triggers excitement and faster transfers. This pattern is not new. What is new is seeing elite-level cricketers fall into the same trap that ordinary citizens face every day.

As things stand, the affected players want their original money back. Contact with the alleged fraudster is not possible. The outcome remains uncertain. What is certain is that if this case quietly disappears, it will only encourage the next scheme. Silence is the most reliable partner of fraud.

This episode should not be treated as gossip or comedy alone, even though it has all the elements of dark humor. It is a serious reminder that financial literacy is as important for athletes as physical fitness. Until systems are in place to guide and protect players, stories like this will keep repeating, just with new faces and new promises.

In cricket, the umpire raises a finger to signal a mistake. In business, no one does. You are expected to recognize the bad ball yourself. And when the delivery looks too good to be true, the safest shot is often to leave it alone.

 

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