June 20, 2007	Wednesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 04, 1428

ABBOTTABAD, June 19: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has imposed a ban on interviews of the Pakistan cricketers, says manager Talat Ali as some local journalists approached the team’s captain and vice-captain.

It should be noted that the PCB has set a code of conduct for the team management, officials and players some time back which is still implemented but interestingly the team management and star players are giving interviews to their ‘favourite’ newspapers and TV channels.

Here the local journalists, who believe they are mostly ignored by the board, have strongly criticised the dual policy of the team management and that of the PCB officials.

The media personnel here think that to get favours from likeminded journalists, the PCB continuously gives them preference through different ways.

Meanwhile, former Australian Test cricketer Geoff Lawson, who is in the run for the job of Pakistan coach, visited the Abbottabad camp on Tuesday.

Lawson watched the players in action and met manager Talat Ali, captain Shoaib Malik, vice-captain Salman Butt and Shahid Afridi.

The former Australian pacer also exchanged views with the team’s senior management including coaches Aaqib Javed and Haroon Rasheed besides meeting Dr Riaz.

Also yesterday, Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar failed to impress in the first ‘target match’ held at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium between two teams of the camp trainees as ‘A’ team won the first match against ‘B’ team by 105 runs.

Shoaib completed his 10 overs with only one wicket while conceding 70 runs.

Misbah-ul-Haq invited the selectors’ attention as he collected 66 before he was called back to give a chance to Afridi who just made five runs.

Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik remained 120 not out while young Fawad Alam showed his ability with the bat with a 73-run knock studded with 10 fours and Salman Butt also made a nice 63. Abdul Razzaq posted 57.

To test the players after the camp the team management has decided to hold ‘target matches’ where teams are given a target to get score and points for every 10 overs.