Pakistan Cricket Board gags cricketers

[ESPN]

The PCB on Thursday bluntly told its Abu Dhabi bound cricketers to avoid speaking to media without prior permission. Keen to keep controversies at a distance, Pakistan Cricket Board ordered a gag that was issued during a team meeting as the players leave the Pakistani shores on Thursday night to play one-day and Twenty20 matches against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The players have been warned of disciplinary action if they breach the code of conduct. "Yes the players have been told in clear terms that they must adhere to the clauses of their central contracts and except for the captain, coach or manager no player is allowed to speak to the media," Abdul Raquib, Pakistan team manager, said. "There will be no compromises on discipline at all and even the board Chairman has made it clear to the team management to be strict about this," he said. Raquib said the players could interact with media if necessary and that too with the due permission. While Raquib did not divulge the details of the meeting, but the insiders said that captain Younus Khan had a heart to heart talk with the players and urged them to approach him in case of any complaints. "Younus made it clear to everyone that the captain could only be successful if the team backs him and that they were all playing for the country first and must give their 100 per cent," an insider said.

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