COLOMBO, July 16: Professor Ratnakar Shetty, the manager of the Indian cricket team for the Asia Cup, categorically denied that the Indian cricketers have been told not to talk to the media.``Neither the team management nor the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) have clamped a media ban. What I have told some mediamen is to steer clear of controversies. I appreciate that the media have a job to do and we would not like to inconvenience them. However, even the players have a duty to perform and it would be helpful if they avoid controversies that could have a direct bearing on their performances,'' explained Prof ShettyThe root of the problem can be traced to the Sachin Tendulkar recent interview back in India in which he expressed strong feelings against the composition of the Indian team for the Asia Cup. However, the Indian skipper said on arrival here from London that he never used he words `B-grade team' to describe his side.It's not often that skippers react strongly against the national selectors and question their wisdom in choosing a team and Tendulkar's unprecedented decision to speak his mind must have irked the BCCI top brass. Under the circumstances, it's only natural that players have been cautioned about what they say to the media.
