Pakistan duo receive bans for life
FORMER Pakistan captains Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf have been sensationally barred from playing for their country for life as part of a crackdown on player discipline.
The experienced pair, arguably Pakistan’s top two performers, were at the forefront of a Pakistan Cricket Board enquiry into the recent tour of Australia where “infighting brought down the whole team”.
Rana Naved-ul Hasan and Shoaib Malik were also banned for one year, while Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal were handed six-month probation orders.
Batsman Younis stepped down as captain just prior to the series with Australia after suggesting he had lost the support of his players. He was subsequently replaced by Yousuf but Pakistan then lost all three Tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 match.
PCB spokesman Nadeem Sawar said: “Team discipline is essential. This is not a harsh decision because the committee has recommended that these steps are necessary and mandatory to keep the team in order.”