Karachi: Pakistan captain Muhammad Yousuf spoke out on Shahid Afridi’s ball-biting act, saying that he is baffled by Afridi’s ball-tampering act in the fifth and final one-day international against Australia in Perth.

“I don’t know why he did it but it brought a bad name to the country. The good thing is that at least he realised his mistake and admitted it. I hope he does not repeat it. Pakistan cricket does not need such incidents,” Yousuf said.

Pakistan’s test and ODI skipper returned home last night after a humiliating Australian tour where they were whitewashed in both one-day and Test series.

Afridi, who led Pakistan in the final one-dayer, was seen biting the ball and was later banned by the match referee for two Twenty20 matches on pleading guilty and apologising for his action.

Yousuf also rubbished reports that he will step down as captain following the disappointing performance Down Under.

“I accepted the captaincy for these difficult tours at a time when no player was willing to accept this challenge. I think I have done a decent job and I want to continue as captain; I will not resign,” he said when asked to comment on statements from the PCB that they would appoint a new captain after the Australian tour.

Yousuf said that statements like the one made by PCB chairman Ejaz Butt in the middle of the tour did affect the team’s performance in the one-day series. “It did affect our performances as it hit the morale of the team and some players started fancying their chances of becoming captain,” he said, reacting to PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt’s statement that younger players will be handed over the reins of the team.

The veteran batsman said that there was no need to make the statement during the series and even if the board wanted to remove him it was their decision. “I admit our performance was bad throughout the series, it was an unsuccessful tour for us… but the results against Australia could have been better had our fielding and batting not let us down.”

Tagged with: Australia, ball tampering, Ejaz Butt, Karachi, Mohammad Yousuf, Pakistan, Shahid Afridi

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