New Delhi: The Cricket Board on Tuesday sought to gag players from speaking about Sourav Ganguly and the issue of player burnout by warning vice-captain Virender Sehwag from speaking on these subjects to the media.

If you have apprehensions of a burnout, take rest and do not give your opinion on Ganguly, Sehwag was bluntly told.

Days after the dashing opener had said that Ganguly, coach Greg Chappell's anathema, was "missed" by the team and that the issue of player burnout had been taken up with the Board, he was verbally warned by BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah.

"Sehwag has been warned verbally from speaking to the media on burnout and the Ganguly issue. Players cannot speak on Board policies and selection matters," Shah declared.

In carefully chosen words, Sehwag had stated in an interview to PTI that while it was the prerogative of the Board and the selectors to decide on the former skipper's future, the team sometimes missed Ganguly.

On burnout, Sehwag had said skipper Rahul Dravid and he had taken up the issue of too much cricket with BCCI President Sharad Pawar when the team was in Pakistan two months ago and that the Board had promised to address the issue after the current commitments were fulfilled.

"If any player feels there is burnout, he can take rest. The Board cannot change its policy or itinerary for any player," Shah told PTI.

"Players cannot speak on Ganguly issue also. It is a matter which concerns the selection committee. As a player you cannot give your opinion on any other player." [PTI]