The International Cricket Council World Cup bound Pakistan squad has been ordered to rigidly stay away from any conversation on politics, religion, or Indo-Pak relationships not only during their starting match against India but also in the other matches of the quadrennial mega tournament (International Cricket Council World Cup).
A senior official of the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a meeting with the players Chairman Shaharyar Khan had made it very understandable that no sort of indiscipline or violation of the code of conduct would be indulged in the International Cricket Council World Cup.
The senior official was quoted saying: “Shaharyar made it clear that the players must not speak on religious, political or Indo-Pak relations during interactions with the media and also avoid these issues even in banter on the field. The players have been told that even if some media outlet contacts them directly for any purpose they should just tell them to talk to the manager and not indulge even in any informal discussion on telephone or in person.”
He said the heed was given in light of the undesireable debate that advanced last year when a video was uploaded on a video sharing website showing Pakistani batsman, Ahmed Shehzad commenting about religion to Sri Lanka‘s Tillekaratne Dilshan when the two of them were coming out of the ground.
That senior official of the Pakistan Cricket Board said that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief said that before the game with India even during media interviews or interactions if anyone put questions addressing to religion or Indo-Pak political ties the players must avoid to answer and instead of that refer that question to the manager or media manager.
He said the players had been told to also pursue authorization of the manager before or meeting or interacting with any person on the tour and to also clear out not to speak to any strangers.