Tuesday, January 6, 2009

PCB gags players, officials


PCB has decided to restrain the people on its payroll from making controversial statements or appearing on television.

The PCB will issue a circular in next 24 hours to gag the players and officials and appoint a spokesperson in the wake of a spate of statements has created chaos and confusion in the cricket circles.
"We have taken notice of this growing trend of players and officials giving statements on a daily basis on every issue and causing more confusion. In the circular, we will make it clear they cant interact with the media without our clearance," Saleem Altaf, Chief Operating Officer of the Board, told PTI.
There has been plenty of confusion caused in the cricket circles with everyone who is anyone in the Board or Pakistan team giving statements on every issue and this has led to fears of a growing internal rift between the former players employed by the board in recent months.
No more differences please
It was noticed that PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt, Director General Javed Miandad, Chief Selector Abdul Qadir, Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam and captain Shoaib Malik have been differing statements on policy matters.
Altaf said after the circular was issued there would be one nominated official spokesman of the Board who would interact with the media.
The first victim of this new strict policy is PCB lawyer Tafazzul Rizvi, who has been asked to explain a statement on the issue of the Board delaying in submitting documents and DVDs with the Lahore High Court relating to the Shoaib Akhtar case.
Reason for explanation
Altaf said the decision to seek an explanation from Rizvi was taken as he had apparently violated the confidentiality agreement between lawyer and client. "Even if the client is wrong somewhere the lawyer is not supposed to go public with statements on this. He has to adhere to this confidentiality clause. Apparently Rizvi didn't do this while commenting on the Shoaib Akhtar case," he said.
Rizvi had said he was as surprised as everyone as to the delay in the Board submitting required documents and DVDs asked by the Lahore High court outlining the disciplinary record of Shoaib Akhtar.
Akhtar has submitted a writ petition with the LHC against the 18 months ban and seven million rupees fine imposed on him by an appellate tribunal of the board.
The court asked the Board to submit the relevant documents and DVDs to confirm Shoaibs past disciplinary record.
Altaf said the Board had also taken note of a statement by senior batsman Younis Khan criticising the pitches and facilities available for matches in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam trophy tournament.
"We are very clear that anyone who is on the payroll of the Board can't give statements when he feels like it or appear on television shows. We aim to regularize this system," Altaf said.
Rizvi has said he would respond to the Board notice within 24 hours time.

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