Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) CEO Deepak Sharma has been asked to submit his resignation by Wednesday, February 18, by PCA ethics officer-cum-ombudsman Justice Jaspal Singh (retd), according to Hindustan Times.
If he does not resign, the council will proceed with his dismissal without further consultation.
Why was Sharma asked to resign?
Former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Justice Jaspal Singh (retd), acting as ombudsman, found that Sharma had not disclosed his role in the Punjab State Housing Federation (Housefed) during his tenure at the PCA.
The association’s ethics officer and ombudsman found that while working for the cricket body between 2014 and 2015, he received benefits from which he received salaries from both organizations during overlapping periods, the report said.
The ombudsman noted that Sharma’s actions constituted both a misrepresentation of facts and financial misconduct. Order issued on February 13.
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What did Justice Singh say?
“It is an undisputed fact which is also corroborated by the documents available on record as well as the non-denial of Respondent No. 1 that the salary was drawn for the overlapping months of 2014-2015 from both HOUSEFED and PCA, which indicates that Respondent No. 1 did not disclose the true and actual facts at the time he joined HOUSEFE and served PCA. PCA pursuant to his appointment letter dated 01.04.2014,” Justice Singha Bar and Bench quoted.
He added: “It is therefore evident that he misrepresented the true facts and took financial advantage by drawing salary from two different sources for the same period and engaged in wrongdoing just to get financial benefit.”
This follows a review of a complaint by PCA life member and former first-class cricketer Rakesh Handy, who accused Sharma of financial misconduct, conflict of interest and other irregularities. Handa claimed that no action was taken by the PCA Supreme Council despite the matter being raised at the 2025 governing body meeting.
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After examining the documents and hearing all parties, the Ombudsman found no convincing evidence to support allegations of interference with staff appointments, tenders or misappropriation of PCA assets.
However, Sharma was found guilty of irregularities related to dual employment and receiving overlapping salaries.
“I used to come here as a temp”: Sharma
Sharma informed the Ombudsman that he intended to resign from his post. Justice Singh accepted the offer, saying that while allegations of misrepresentation, financial gain and ethical misconduct were warranted, an immediate and unconditional resignation could help prevent further disruption within the institution and avoid lengthy court proceedings.
According to a HT report, Sharma said, “I have always worked for cricket. In 2014, when I started working at PCA, I used to come here part-time. In 2015, when I started working here permanently, I left my previous job.”