Darrell Hair brands Shahid Afridi a 'serial cheat'

Former Australian Test umpire Darrell Hair has described flamboyant Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi, who has been banned for two T20 matches on ball-tampering charges, a 'serial cheat'.

Hair said this is not the first instance when Afridi exhibited bizarre behaviour on the cricket field, and added that the slam-bang cricketer would continue to 'cheat' in future also.

"Cheat is the only word for him. He has cheated before, he has cheated in this instance - he pleaded guilty - and I'm sure he will again. He is no angel," The Courier Mail quoted Hair, saying.

He aslo branded Afridi as an overrated player.

"I remember that incident when he deliberately scratched the pitch when he thought everyone was looking the other way. He thought he would get away with it but he was caught then as well. Unfortunately he has become a highly overrated player as well," Hair said.

He also blasted Afridi for saying all teams in the world are involved in ball tampering after he was caught on camera 'biting' the ball during the fifth and final one-day international against Australia in Perth on Sunday.

"Afridi has come out and said every team has done it, but their bowling coach Waqar Younis has been convicted of ball tampering," Hair said.

Afridi was banned for a Test and two one-day internationals for damaging the pitch in the second match of the three-Test series against England in 2005 at Faisalabad.

TV cameras caught him scraping his boots on the pitch when play was held up after a gas canister exploded.