PCB to gag players from speaking to media under new code

Karachi:

Players who have central contracts or retainers with the Pakistan Cricket Board will have to sign a revised Code of Conduct which gags them from speaking to the media without prior permission.

The new code of conduct, which provides strong penalties for violating it, would have to be signed by players before next month's ODIs against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

"Lot of players have been giving statements in the media which have led to problems for the board or the team. We want to put a stop on this," PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt said on Wednesday.

He said once the revised code of conduct was included in the contracts of the players, they would be required to follow it in letter and spirit.

"We will outline all the clauses of the code to them clearly before they sign it and once it is signed we will not tolerate any violations," he added.

Butt said under the new code of conduct only the captain, coach and manager would be allowed to speak to the media.

"Any player wishing to speak to the media or give interviews will have to seek permission from the management or board in advance and tell what he will be speaking on.

"The players would be barred from speaking on the team or board matters. We don't want players speaking on team matters at the drop of hat," the PCB chief said.

Butt said the previous code of conduct for players in the contracts was not clearly defined or explained and players got away with violations because of that.