In a bid to change the image of Pakistani cricketers and become "media savvy" himself, captain Shoaib Malik has started taking English classes from a specially appointed tutor.
"Shoaib is very serious about his image and that of the country. He realises the importance of a modern day cricket captain being media savvy and having the confidence and proficiency in an international language," a source close to the 25-year-old Malik said.
Malik's endeavour has found support from the Cricket Board, which has asked other players to follow suit. The PCB, in fact, is contemplating starting classes in English for young players attending the National Cricket Academy and training camps.
Poor command over English has been a cause of embarrassment for the Pakistani players and has often put them into unwanted controversies generated by an international media unable to interpret them properly after a press conference or prize distribution ceremony.
During the World Cup in the West Indies, the Pakistani team created a stir when its media manager Pervez Mir said that captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and other players would not address press conferences in English.
Mir said he would act as a translator for the benefit of international media.
The International Cricket Council had to step in and remind the team management of the necessity to speak in English at prize distribution ceremonies for an international television audience.
