Although the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has clarified that the ban on captain Mohammed Yousuf is 'discretionary' and not for life, the dejected skipper is contemplating retirement.

Yousuf's close friends said he was 'distraught' and almost speechless when he came to know about the PCB's decision.

"Yousuf is contemplating retirement with immediate effect, but we are trying to talk him out of it. At the moment, he is very confused with this situation and hopefully things may improve and become clearer soon," PakPassion.net quoted one of Yousuf's close friends, as saying.

According to him, Yousuf was particularly upset over the treatment meted out to him by the PCB, as he came to know about the ban imposed on him only through media.

"All he wants to know is what he has done wrong. He has had no official correspondence from the Board or even a telephone call to explain where he has erred and has just heard about the punishment in the media. This is not the way to treat a Pakistani cricketing legend and someone who has served his country with dignity over the years," he said.

Yousuf, who has played 88 Tests and scored 7,431 runs at a very impressive career average of 53, is Pakistan's third-highest Test run-scorer ever. He recently stepped in to lead Pakistan for the troubled tour of New Zealand and Australia was severely criticised for the team's defeat in the second Test at Sydney. (ANI)