Pakistan has seen many finishers coming and going, but few have left a unique mark as Asif Ali. The 33-year-old explosive batter announced his retirement from international cricket, ending his career, with short numbers but plenty of unforgettable moments.
Asia Ali played 21 ODIs and 58 T20Is for the Green Man, usually playing the role of the finisher in the mid-term, which brought him both fame and criticism. His most famous knock came at the 2021 T20 World Cup, when the green men had a major problem against Afghanistan.
Asif Ali calls international career time
With 24 runs from the last two overs, the right-handed batsman destroyed four towering sixes on the 19th, sealing off the victory and taking Pakistan to the semi-finals. That seven-ball 25-run burst is still remembered as one of the most thrilling finishes in modern Pakistan history.
Your daily cricket dosage!
Also Read: The Australian T20 Team of the New Zealand Series has been announced. Marcus Stonis is back
Apart from his hero against Afghanistan, he played an important eight-ball 16 against India in the 2022 Asian Cup, helping Pakistan reach the final. However, after that tournament, his form was soaked up badly. He was then selected as a backup for the 2022 T20 World Cup.
Asif slowly lost his place on the national team as Pak discovers a young finisher. Asif made his Pakistan debut in 2018 after the hero of Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Has Pakistan failed to do justice to Asif Ali’s talent?
He helped Islamabad United unlock the PSL trophy that year, which led him to win his maiden call and ultimately earned his T20I debut against the West Indies in April 2018.
The green man needed a pretty power hitter and Asif looked like the proper guy in white ball cricket. However, his role was often misunderstood by selectors and fans. In ODIS, he came too early when the situation didn’t suit his batting style.
Also, in T20I cricket, ASIFs usually had too few balls to make an impact, with an average of seven deliveries per inning.
Also Read: Rahul Dravid joins Indian cricket team after leaving Rajasthan Royals
Still, ASIF was able to remain undefeated more often. Before his few appearances at the 2023 Asian Games, the green men’s final major game took on India in the MCG of the 2022 T20 World Cup.
Asif Ali retired with gratitude and is looking at the global T20 league
Announcement of his decision, Asif said wearing a green jersey was the greatest honor of his life. The hard-hitting batter also confirmed that he will continue to play domestic cricket and franchise leagues around the world.
Asif Ali posted on a social media post. “Wearing a Pakistani jersey is the greatest honor of my life and I am proud to serve my country in the field of cricket.
He finished his international cricket career with 382 runs with 21 ODI and 577 runs with 58 T20I. However, his numbers in domestic cricket have earned 1777 runs in 43 first class games, 2388 runs in 99 List A games and 4737 runs in 302 T20 games.