Shahid Afridi has been banned for two Twenty20 internationals after being caught up in a ball-tampering row during his team's defeat in final ODI against Australia.
Afridi quoted in an interview with ABC Radio that he was trying to move somethings on the ball. He said, "I tried to smell it. There were some things on it that I tried to move. I don't know what made me do such a mad thing. It was not right and I apologise for my actions . This was very unfortunate and should not have happened. I have learnt from my mistake and will not repeat it again".
Afridi, who was captaining Pakistan in the absence of Mohammad Yousuf, was caught on TV cameras apparently biting the ball in the match at the WACA in Perth where Australia completed a 5-0 whitewash of the one-day series.
A team source, speaking to Cricinfo, said "Shahid Afridi has been banned for two T20Is after the incident. He pleaded guilty to the charge."
Afridi, who captains the Pakistan side in Twenty20 cricket, will miss the match against Australia on February 5 as well as the first of two matches against England in Dubai on February 19.
The International Cricket Council confirmed that Afridi had received two suspension points after breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the game.
Two suspension points in the code means a ban of a Test, two ODIs or two T20Is.
Shahid was charged with an article 2.2.9 offence of the ICC Code of Conduct which relates to "changing the condition of the ball in breach of Law 42.3 of the Laws of Cricket".
The charge was laid by on-field umpires Asoka de Silva and Paul Reiffel, as well as third umpire Rod Tucker and fourth official Mick Martell.
Match referee Ranjan Madugalle handed Afridi the maximum penalty under the provision of the code.
"I imposed the maximum penalty under the code to Shahid and reminded him of his responsibilities as a national captain which is to ensure that the match is played according to the laws of the game and in the spirit in which it is intended to be played," said Madugalle.
"Shahid, when pleading guilty, apologised and regretted his actions," the match referee said.
Afridi, who was ashamed of his actions, apologised for his act and said he would never commit the mistake again.
"I'm ashamed of myself. I shouldn't have done such an act. It happened in the heat of the moment. I apologise for my mistake," Afridi said.
"It was a close match and Pakistan had not won any match. We needed a win and I just wanted to help the fast bowlers. I did it on that spur of moment. I have been banned now and I have learnt my lessons. I will ensure it doesn't happen again," Afridi added.
In 2005, Afridi was banned for twisting his spikes and trying to change condition of pitch during a Test match in Faisalabad against England.
Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam said Afridi's actions were unacceptable. He wondered why he was behaving as if he was "eating an apple" and remarked that he did not know what Afridi wanted to achieve.
"It's unacceptable. It shouldn't have happened but it happened and I feel sorry for him. Being a captain you should be above everything but unfortunately it's happened," Alam said.
Immediately after television cameras showed Afridi biting into the ball to change its condition, a top official called up team manager Abdul Raquib and instructed him not to send Afridi for the closing ceremony and instead ask regular captain Mohammad Yousuf to do that job, said PCB sources.
"Raquib was also told that Afridi should not be allowed to speak to the media after the match and that he should immediately accept his mistake and apologize to match referee, Ranjan Madugalle," one PCB official said.
He said this was done to avoid more controversy and problems for Afridi.
"The board has now asked the team management to send Afridi back home early as he is no longer required with the team," he added.
Well placed sources, however, said despite the ball tampering incident and the two match ban, the board officials were impressed with the way Afridi wholeheartedly led the side in the absence of Yousuf.
"He is definitely our next one-day internationals captain but since he himself is not very keen on playing Test cricket the board will look at other candidates to lead the side in the longest format," one source said.
© Cricbuzz (with inputs from agencies)
