Pakistan's Yousuf blames captain, board for defection

KARACHI (Reuters) - A lack of respect and the attitude of the Pakistan Cricket Board and captain were behind Mohammad Yousuf's decision to join the unofficial Indian Cricket League, the senior batsman said.

The 34-year-old, who joined the ICL on Wednesday, told the Geo News channel he had been under enormous mental strain and stress since the World Cup in 2007.

"I was not given the respect a senior player deserves in the team. I was fed up with the attitude of captain, Shoaib Malik, and the cricket board," Yousuf said.

Yousuf, who has been banned from playing for Pakistan, denied money was the motivation for defecting to the rebel league.

"Money was never an issue for joining the ICL. I was getting paid by the board for not playing in the private leagues," he said.