KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) – Senior batsman Muhammad Yousuf says he will retire from international cricket in protest at the indefinite ban imposed on him by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
“I have made up my mind to retire from international cricket and I will make an official announcement on Monday (tomorrow),” the former captain told Reuters yesterday.
Yousuf, who has played 88 Tests and 282 one-day internationals, said he was fed up with the way he had been treated by the board and felt insulted by the ban imposed on him earlier this month.
The PCB banned Yousuf and another former captain, Younis Khan, indefinitely on the recommendations of an inquiry committee that looked into the team’s poor performances in Australia and reports of infighting in the team.
Differences between the two players had affected the team, the committee said in its report.
“I don’t want to say anything more at this stage except that this ban is unfair and I have served my country diligently,” Yousuf, 35, said yesterday. “I will speak in detail on Monday.”
Yousuf, who won the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test batsman of the year award in 2006 for his record-breaking spree of run-scoring when he got nine centuries, originally retired from international cricket when he joined the unofficial Indian Cricket League in 2007 but later returned to play for Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi told Reuters Pakistan needed Yousuf.
“I think if he retires it would be an emotional decision and Pakistan cricket still needs him now,” Afridi said.
“We have a lot of Test matches coming up this year and Yousuf remains our top batsman.”
PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt said the board would decide on any future course of action if Yousuf made an announcement. “Right now there is no such thing but he is our senior player and we have a lot of regard for him.”