Pakistan Captain cash for interview

Pakistan captain justifies cash-for-interview

Mohali: Pakistan stand-in captain Younis Khan Tuesday defended the players asking for cash from journalists for giving interviews.

"We are professionals and so are you. There is nothing wrong if players ask for money to give interviews. You should be willing to pay if you want players to talk," Younis told reporters here.

He justified his stance on the issue saying that since players were bound by rules of respective boards and the International Cricket Council, they could charge money for interviews.

"The interviews that players give help the media sell and make money. So what is wrong in asking for money," Younis said.

The Pakistan team got into a controversy here after a young team member allegedly sought Rs.22,500 from a local journalist of a national daily for giving an interview.

The player through the team's Indian liaison officer Ranjit Bajaj allegedly made the demand for cash-for-interview.