Pakistan Cricket Board has strictly asked all its members of the national cricket team to not to use any social networking website, especially Facebook and Twitter.

The crackdown comes in the wake of Zulqarnain Haider’s recent Facebook updates when he went missing in Dubai during one-day series against South Africa.

He had updated his status on Facebook mentioning that he was facing some kind of pressure.

The board has added a clause in the contract for players, saying that no one can use Facebook or Twitter during the contracted period.

Pakistan manager Intikhab Alam confirmed the directive, but maintained the ban was part of a clause in the players’ contract with the board.

“There is a clause in their contracts which states clearly they can’t use these social network sites or discuss cricket issues while under contract,” Alam said.

“It is for their own good so that they don’t get entangled into controversies.”

He subsequently announced his retirement from international cricket which followed his central contract being suspended by the board.