Karachi, September 7:

Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar apologised on Friday for hitting teammate Mohammad Asif, but said he was provoked into the act which saw him sent home from the World Twenty20 Championships.

“I am sorry for my act. It was a two-minute temper loss which caused me and my team embarrassment and I apologise,” Akhtar said, as he headed back to Pakistan from Johannesburg.

The 32-year-old hit Asif on the leg with a cricket bat after a row during a practice session in Johannesburg on Thursday and the team management in consultation with the Pakistan Cricket Board decided to expel him.