KARACHI: Pakistan’s world record holder batsman Mohammad Yousuf today said he had decided to retire next week in protest over an indefinite ban imposed by country’s cricket board.

Yousuf, who holds the world record for most runs in a calendar year with 1,788 made in 2006, was banned by an inquiry committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) two weeks ago. “I have decided to retire and my decision is not an emotional one,” Yousuf said. “It’s of no use playing after such an insult which is unacceptable and I will announce my decision on Monday.”

Yousuf led Pakistan on their twin tours of New Zealand and Australia between November and February after regular captain Younus Khan withdrew over a lack of form. Pakistan drew the three-match series in New Zealand 1-1 but lost all three Tests, five one-day and a Twenty20 match in Australia — results which prompted the PCB to investigate the reasons for their catastrophic tour.

The committee blamed infighting between Yousuf and Khan for the disastrous results, and recommended they “should not be part of the national team in any format”, but no period of ban was specified. Former captain Shoaib Malik and all-rounder Rana Naved-ul-Hasan were banned for one year besides being heavily fined.