IANS

Karachi, Oct 21: Pakistani cricketers will have to sign a new code of conduct before leaving for UAE to play in a limited-overs series, the country's cricket chief announced Wednesday. The new order will bar players from speaking to the media without the board's permission.

Ijaz Butt, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief, said the decision to ask the players to sign a new code of conduct has been taken to minimise the chances of indiscipline.

"A new code of conduct will be signed before the series against New Zealand in UAE according to which only the captain, coach and manager would be allowed to give comments regarding the team's performance," said Butt.

"Other players could only give comments after taking PCB's permission," he added.

The decision has been taken after players like Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal and Shahid Afridi as well as Pakistan's associate manager Shafqat Rana made contrasting statements following Pakistan's stunning semifinal defeat in the Champions Trophy against New Zealand earlier this month.

The loss triggered a major controversy for Pakistan cricket after the national team was accused of match-fixing by the chief of the parliamentary sports committee. The committee, however, exonerated the team of any wrongdoing but the damage was done as Younis Khan decided to resign as captain.

Butt rejected his resignation and later said that he wanted Younis to continue till the 2011 World Cup.