Speaking to PakPassion.net a PCB spokesperson stated "Yousuf's team were playing in an orange kit and the rules of the competition clearly stated that the pads should be of the same colour as the rest of the kit. However Yousuf wore green pads and refused to change his pads, despite requests from the on field umpires and also despite requests from the match referee.

 by Saj Sadiq

25 January 2011

Veteran batsman and former captain Mohammad Yousuf had a "double whammy" recently. Firstly his name was omitted from the Pakistan World Cup squad and then Yousuf faced the embarassment of a 2 match ban and Rs 15,000 fine from the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Yousuf appearing for the Lahore Lions against the State Bank of Pakistan was dismissed for a paltry 10 off 12 deliveries but Yousuf's problems did not end there, as the match referee took exception to Yousuf's attire and his disappearance before the match was concluded.

Following the conclusion of the match the match referee Ilyas Khan slapped Yousuf with the fine and ban following Yousuf's refusal to change his pads during the course of his innings and also as a result of Yousuf leaving the National Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex, Karachi prior to the conclusion of the match which Lahore Lions lost by the huge margin of 152 runs.

Speaking to PakPassion.net a PCB spokesperson stated "Yousuf's team were playing in an orange kit and the rules of the competition clearly stated that the pads should be of the same colour as the rest of the kit. However Yousuf wore green pads and refused to change his pads, despite requests from the on field umpires and also despite requests from the match referee. All teams were informed of the ruling prior to the competition and a veteran of the domestic circuit should be aware of the rules."

Yousuf has had a difficult time of late with a ban from the PCB, being removed as skipper after a difficult tour of Australia, being omitted originally for the tour of England and the latest episode is another negative episode for Yousuf who retired and then came out of retirement last year.

Prior to the end of the match between Lahore Lions and the State Bank of Pakistan and before any presentations, Yousuf left the NBP Complex and therefore avoided the match referee, however subsequent to the match, the referee imposed the ban and fine on Yousuf after taking into account both offences.

The PCB spokesperson added "Yousuf left the stadium before the end of the match which is not permitted, unless prior approval has been obtained and in case of injury. Again, all players and officials are aware of this ruling. Yousuf left the stadium early as he knew he would be summoned by the match referee. The referee took both offences into account and has punished Yousuf in accordance with the code of conduct."