Afridi's actions unacceptable - Inzamam

Inzamam-ul-Haq, the former Pakistan captain, has come down strongly on Shahid Afridi's actions in the fifth ODI against Australia, during which the latter was found guilty of biting the ball and incurred a two-match ban.

"What Afridi did was unacceptable and more worrying is the fact that he was captain when he tried to tamper with the ball. He didn't do any service to Pakistan cricket with his actions," Inzamam told PTI. "The match referee Ranjan Madugalle has been kind to Afridi, giving him just a two-match ban or Afridi could have been in bigger trouble."

Inzamam blamed the PCB for the general lack of discipline in the national side. "I hold the board responsible for all that is happening. It shows there is a need to enforce stricter discipline in the team. But the board itself promotes such things by giving unnecessary statements [changing the captain] during a tour," he said. "Obviously it had a negative effect on the performance of the team and captain."

Inzamam believed Mohammad Yousuf was the best option to lead Pakistan and that the PCB should continue to support him."Yousuf accepted the captaincy at a very difficult time for Pakistan cricket and has done his best in New Zealand and Australia, where in the past also stronger teams have tasted defeat.

"I think the board must show confidence in him and give him a fair chance to show his capability as captain. I am confident he is perfectly capable of leading the team well in future," Inzamam said.

Inzamam also questioned the decision to include Younis Khan in the ODI squad after leaving him out of the Test leg of the tour. Younis had stepped down from captaincy prior to the tour of New Zealand, and was ignored for the Australia Tests despite making himself available for selection.