PCB asks cricketers to refrain from giving interviews

KARACHI - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sent reminders to its centrally-contracted players to refrain from giving media interviews without prior permission.

A senior PCB official told IANS Thursday that the move came after controversial pacer Shoaib Akhtar was sent a show-cause notice after he gave a hard-hitting interview on a television channel.

In the interview, Shoaib said that he could have taken legal action against the countrys cricket authorities for making public his medical report in which he was diagnosed as suffering from genital warts.

The player also claimed that the Pakistan team management conspired to get him thrown out of the Pakistan team for World Twenty20 in England.

“We have sent reminders to all the players who are under central contract to follow obligations and not give interviews without prior permission from us,” Zakir Khan, PCBs director of operations, said.

Apart from Shoaib, the PCB top brass was also unhappy over an interview given by opener Imran Nazir, who was recently cleared for national duty after quitting the unofficial Indian Cricket League (ICL). Nazir was later cleared following a hearing.

Shoaib, who turns 34 next month, faces yet another fine from the PCB over his media outburst. He is already fighting a legal battle against the board over a Rs.7 million fine imposed on him over a series of disciplinary breaches.