Afridi banned for ball tampering

Pakistani player Shahid Afridi says he tried to tamper with the ball during a match against Australia on Sunday because he was “frustrated” with his team’s performance...

“I am embarrassed -- I have made a mistake,” Afridi told Pakistan’s Geo TV after ICC banned him for two Twenty20 internationals for tampering with the ball during the fifth and final ODI against Australia in Perth. “I was frustrated because the Pakistan team hasn’t won any match for quite some time,” said Afridi.

“I am not a fast bowler who would tamper the ball. I was just trying to help the bowler. There is no team in the world that doesn’t tamper with the ball but my approach was wrong.”

“I shouldn’t have done this. I have been punished for my fault. I should learn a lesson out of this incident,” he said.