PTI
 
New Delhi, May 10: The Indian cricket board bluntly told vice-captain Virender Sehwag on Tuesday he could step aside if he wanted after his media comments praising sacked ex-captain Saurav Ganguly and raising player burnout concerns.

Board secretary Niranjan Shah told Reuters by phone: "I have issued a verbal warning to him not to speak on these issues. He is contracted to the board and should be careful what he says."

In a television interview two days ago, Sehwag praised Ganguly as the best captain he played under, calling him a "good human being".

He added that he sometimes missed Ganguly's presence and that the left-handed batsman could still make a comeback.

Sehwag also said in an interview with Indian news agency PTI that there was too much cricket and players needed time off to think about their game and recharge their batteries.

The controversy comes three days before the team's departure for the test tour of West Indies.

Shah said the players were barred under the code of conduct from commenting on Ganguly because it relates to selection and that the board was happy with the current match schedule.

Also read earlier report: New Delhi: Viru's Dada-gaga Arouses Emotions, BCCI Orders Gag

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