Secret monitors to watch Pakistani cricketers

Islamabad, April 17 (IANS) The Pakistan Cricket Board planned to send a group of secret monitors to keep an eye on its cricketers during their May-June tour to England in an effort to stop players from getting involved in any scandal.

Official sources said the PCB had devised a strategy to avoid any scandal or controversy during the upcoming tough tour, reports Xinhua.

"The decision came after seeing the history of our team's tours to England. Whenever our team went on tour, the players were dragged into some controversy by the media," the sources said.

Pakistan will start their tour to England on May 17 where it will play two One-day International matches each against Scotland and Ireland before participating in the eight-nation ICC Champions Trophy scheduled to start on June 7.

The main job of the undercover observers will be to watch the players' activities inside and outside the hotel and at grounds.

According to the sources, the PCB has also finalised a list of rules and regulations for the tour and all the players will have to sign on a specific agreement.

Under the agreement, a strict observation will be on the usage of phone and Internet by the players during their official stay in England.

Players will not be allowed to move freely in public and participate in dinners or parties. But the tour management committee will make arrangements for the team's collective tours for shopping and recreation.

During Pakistani team's last tour to England in 2010, three top players were found involved in a spot-fixing corruption scandal.