PCB restricts media access of players

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has restricted media access of its players during the ongoing 2019 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup.

All players were strictly directed to not be in contact with media personnel. The board published videos and press releases so that they could dominate the narrative.

The videos filled with claims about preparations have now become the target of various jokes. The unannounced directive of avoiding media personnel has led to many players changing their whatsapp numbers. However someone from the team management kept leaking news to favoured journalists.

According to details the hard-line stance against the media has made the job of journalists hard. Many Journalists have made the trip from Pakistan to England, however, they have not been able to get in touch with or interview the players.

Even though the PCB appointed a media manager, he has to take directives on all matters from the Director Media Sami Burney, who is based in Lahore.

One or two players were given the opportunity to speak to the media in small doses.

The officials were afraid that ‘team news’ would be leaked. No other country including India employs the same tactics.