Pak team manager denies claims Afridi barred from speaking to media

Islamabad, June 7(ANI): Pakistan team manager Naved Cheema has denied that he ever said all rounder Shahid Afridi being kept away from the media to avoid.

Cheema said Afridi hasn't spoken to the media in Sri Lanka because he is not available most of the times.

Pakistan cricket circles are abuzz with speculation of reports suggesting that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and team management have stopped Afridi from speaking to the media following his previous controversies.

"There is no restriction on Afridi to speak to the media. If he has not spoken to the media in Sri Lanka it is because of availability issues," The Daily Times quoted Cheema, as saying.

"As far as the Man-of-the-Match ceremonies or pre or post match conferences are concerned, the captain has the prerogative of deciding either to go himself before the media or to send some player for these customary interactions with the media," he added.

Afridi has been one of the most talked-about and reported cricketers in Pakistan after is public row with the PCB and its former chairman Ijaz Butt. (ANI)