BCCI asks media to keep off players

New Delhi, Feb 25 (PTI) As if gagging the players is notenough, the Indian Cricket Board today asked the media to"refrain" from contacting Mahendra Singh Dhoni''s men forinterviews as the team wants to "concentrate" on its World Cupcampaign.

"The members of the media are requested to refrain fromconstantly contacting the members of the Indian Cricket Teamon phone/SMS for interviews/bytes as players would like toconcentrate on the ongoing World Cup matches," Board SecretaryN Srinivasan said in a statement.

The Indian team won its opening match against Bangladeshand is currently training in Bangalore for the second Group Bmatch against England on Sunday.

Every move of the Indian cricket team is making nationalheadlines in the ongoing World Cup with reports ranging fromthe colour of their jerseys to minor niggles picked up duringpractice making for breaking news on television channels.

Before the World Cup started, the BCCI told the playersnot to write any syndicate columns for newspapers to avoidcreating any controversy in the middle of the campaign.

Meanwhile, the BCCI also clarified that opener VirenderSehwag is expected to be fit for the game against Englanddespite a minor injury scare after being hit on the ribsduring practice.

"Virender Sehwag was hit on the left ribcage in the netsearlier today. He is currently under medication; however he isexpected to be fit for the match against England on Sunday,"the BCCI statement read.