Indian board gags players

Alarmed at Harbhajan Singh airing his opinion of the spat between Sourav Ganguly and Greg Chappell earlier today, the BCCI has asked all contracted Indian players to keep quiet on the issue.

The board cautioned them that any behaviour to the contrary would amount to a breach of contract. As well as contracted players, the release was sent to those who were on the recent tour to Zimbabwe and the Indian team's support staff.

A media release issued by BCCI secretary S Nair from Thirvananthapuram said the board has "appealed to all cricketers under its contract, as well as those who were selected for the tour of Zimbabwe and the support staff of the team, to exercise restraint."

In the gagging order, Nair said: "Your kind attention is invited to the relevant provision of the letter of selection that was issued to you prior to the tour to Zimbabwe in August 2005, or the contract entered between you and the board.

"You are aware that the board has constituted a committee to review the performance of the Indian team and the role of all concerned. The committee is scheduled to meet on September 27, 2005 at Mumbai.

"In view of this, you are adviced to apply restraint and not make any comments to the media that affects the interest of Indian cricket."