Yousuf served a ban for playing in the now-disbanded rebel ICL competition

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf has announced his retirement from international cricket in protest against an indefinite suspension.

The 35-year-old was banned following an inquiry into the tour of Australia earlier this year when the team lost all nine matches under his leadership.

Pakistan officials said Yousuf's presence was harmful to the team.

"I always played for my country and if my playing is harmful for the team then I don't want to play," said Yousuf.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ordered the inquiry after the team lost all three Tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 match in Australia.

As a result Yousuf and former captain Younus Khan were both handed indefinite bans, while another ex-skipper, Shoaib Malik, and pace bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan were banned for a year.

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Newly appointed captain Shahid Afridi, who will lead Pakistan's defence of their World Twenty20 title in the Caribbean in May, was fined and placed on probation for six months, along with brothers Umar and Kamran Akmal.

The PCB said it was particularly concerned by the friction between Younus and Yousuf, claiming their "infighting...brought down the whole team", although stressing that neither player was banned for life.

However, Yousuf moved swiftly to end his playing international playing days, while stressing that he wanted to continue playing first-class cricket.

"I received a letter from the PCB that my staying in the team is harmful for the team, so I announce my retirement from international cricket," he said at a media conference in the western Pakistani city of Karachi.

"I thank the fans around the world, all the senior players and family members for supporting me throughout my 12-year career.

"If I get time, I would love to play first-class cricket and private leagues."

Chief selector Mohsin Khan later urged Yousuf to reconsider and said he was "in our plans" for this summer's tour to England.

But Yousuf's former captain and team-mate Inzamam-ul-Haq said he doubted whether there would be any u-turn.

Yousuf served a ban for playing in the now-disbanded rebel ICL competition

"I don't think he will change his decision this time because he is extremely hurt at the way the board has made accusations against him and banned him," Inzamam commented.

"You don't treat senior players like this, there is total confusion and contradiction in the charges made against Yousuf by the inquiry committee."

Yousuf played 88 Tests during a 12-year international career, nine as captain, scoring 7,431 runs at an average of 53.07, including 24 centuries.

He remains third in the list of Pakistan's leading Test run scorers behind Javed Miandad (8,832 in 124) and Inzamam (8,829 in 119).

However, his greatest achievement in the five-day game remains his record 1,788 Test runs in 2006, beating Viv Richards' previous best of 1,710 runs in a calendar year for West Indies 30 years before.

Yousuf's superb performances saw him named the International Cricket Council's Test Player of the Year in at the start of 2007.

The elegant right-hander also scored 9,624 runs in 282 one-day internationals, with 15 hundreds and a highest score of 141 not out.

He was banned from representing Pakistan in November 2008 after joining the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League, but had his suspension lifted in May 2009 following an amnesty by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

However, his three in Tests and four matches in charge in Australia proved disastrous, with internal politics affecting the team's performances on the pitch.

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