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| February 24, 2007 | Saturday | Safar 6, 1428 |
PCB bars Cup squad from speaking to press
LAHORE, Feb 23: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday barred its World Cup squad from speaking to the press in a bid to avoid controversies besides developing harmony among the players.
“We have taken this step as a part of the team’s preparation for the World Cup and to create an ideal atmosphere for the players so that they can fully concentrate on their game,” said the PCB media spokesman, P J Mir at a briefing here on Friday as the team’s camp for the World Cup started.
He added the World Cup is a grand event, adding it is time to lift the morale of the team to portray its better image leaving aside what happened in the past. “In the past there was a routine to criticise the team and its management before and during such a high-profile event and even I used to do so when I was a member of the national team which played the first World Cup,” said Mir who represented Pakistan in five One-day Internationals.
He informed the captain (Inzamam-ul-Haq) would be speaking to the press whenever needed during the camp training, adding he would be available to answer all the questions relating to the team’s preparations and prospects in the Cup. “The decision is not aimed at confronting with the media; it has its own significance in terms of stopping unhealthy criticism ahead of the World Cup and not to involve players in controversies,” he explained, insisting, “It’s time to join forces to build the image of the team which badly needs encouragement before its participation in the West Indies extravaganza.”
He asserted the PCB would be providing daily information to the national media during the camp and this practice would be followed during the World Cup.
“Chairman PCB Dr Nasim Ashraf has also requested the national press to come forward and boost the confidence of the (national) team to inspire them to perform well for achieving encouraging results in the Caribbean,” he expressed.
Mir disclosed a proposal is under consideration to present one or two players at a daily media briefing during the camp. “We have short time left for the preparations and at this stage our team cannot afford controversies or other issues which could have adverse results on the morale of the players,” he said.
Mir emphasised it was a worldwide routine that players are barred from speaking to the press or issuing statements as it can also reveal team’s strategies which the management plans to use at the event or against certain teams. “At present the most important job ahead of the players is to focus on their preparations for the World Cup and we will be supporting them in achieving this task,” he said. —APP
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