IANS

New Delhi, Feb 20: Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan says Shahid Afridi has been punished enough for ball tampering, which, according to the legendary cricketer, has been a part of cricket for long.

Afridi, who was leading the side in the fifth and last One-day International (ODI) in absence of injured Mohammad Yousuf, was caught on camera biting the ball. He was banned for two Twenty20 internationals after being found guilty.

"Probably people don't realize, I was in a court case involved -- this was all about ball tampering. And basically my plea in the court case was that ball tampering was part of cricket. It was just the degree that varied," Imran told CNN's Connect the World programme.

He, however, said Afridi was wrong in resorting to such measures.

"Shahid Afridi crossed the limit. But basically, I mean, you know, ball tampering has been part of cricket. It's sort of more gamesmanship. When I first started playing cricket, nobody would mention ball tampering and it was being done all the time," Imran said.

"So Shahid Afridi really has been punished. Yes, he should not have done it. Yes, it was wrong. Worse to be caught like that. But I think he's been punished enough."