Cricketers have been restricted from speaking to the media by manager-cum-coach Talat Ali after captain Shoaib Malik was misquoted in a recent report.
KARACHI: Cricketers attending the national training camp have been restricted from speaking to the media by manager-cum-coach Talat Ali after captain Shoaib Malik was misquoted in a recent report.
"Only the captain, chief selector and myself can speak to the media that is also if it is absolutely necessary. When the matches start obviously the top performer will attend the media conference. But for now no player is allowed to speak to the press," Talat said on the sidelines of the camp in Lahore.
According to Pakistan Cricket Board sources, Malik was quoted as saying in a section of media that Talat did not have control over the proceedings or players.
"Malik was summoned by Talat who wanted an explanation for the reports. Malik, however, denied he has said this and insisted his words had been twisted by the media," one source said.
Ali confirmed on Monday that Malik was misquoted as he had basically said the team was missing coach Bob Woolmer who died during the World Cup in the West Indies.
"He basically meant to say that after a long time since Woolmer was not there to control the nets the players were missing him," Ali said.
But still all players had been restricted from speaking to the media, he added.
The media sources also faced different set of problems when a couple of reporters from a television channel and newspaper approached Mohammad Yousuf for an interview and were told to pay up $1000. Similar complaints were also received about some other players.
Talat insisted in the training camp no player could speak to the media under any condition.
"There will be no compromise on discipline and fitness and we just want the players to concentrate on their training," he said.
About complaints by some players that they were being made to train in extremely hot weather, he said this was part of the training drill.
Sources in the camp say as far as discipline and fitness angles are concerned, Talat and the new selection committee headed by Salahuddin Ahmed are already making a difference to the old culture prevalent in the team.
"Imran Nazir turned up late today and was told to do two rounds of the stadium as punishment. He was also clearly told by the chief selector if he came late again he should not bother to come at all," one source said.
The source said pacer Mohammad Asif had also got a run down from selector Saleem Jaffer when he entered the bowling area with a soft drink bottle in his hand.
"He was told no drinks were allowed in the nets and he should not come there without a proper kit," the source added.
There were frequent complaints when Inzamam-ul Haq was captain and Woolmer the coach that the players were being given too much liberty.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}