'Talent Wasted No Doubt' - Wasim Akram On Mohammad Asif
Mohammad Asif. (Credits: Web)

Former Pakistan pace bowler Wasim Akram said it was unfortunate for Pakistan that Asif Ali don’t play for them for a long period and termed it a ‘waste of talent’.

Asif played 23 Tests, 38 One-Day Internationals and 11 T20 Internationals for the Pakistan national cricket team from 2005 to 2010 before involvement in spot-fixing put curtains on his playing career.

Mohammad Asif the unfortunate guy who couldn’t serve cricket for a long time

Asif wasn’t one of those bowlers who was a master of pace bowling but held accuracy in areas which made him a potent force. Pakistan has the impression of producing quality pace bowlers and Asif was no exception.

The right-arm pacer would swing the ball both in the air and off the wicket. Asif didn’t have a fond Test debut to remember as he conceded 72 runs in 16 overs without any wicket against Australia in Sydney in 2005.

He emerged as a promising talent while playing in his third Test in Karachi, where he rattled India’s top-order ruthlessly and picked seven wickets in the match to cruise Pakistan to a clinical win by 341 runs. In the second Test against Sri Lanka in Kandy in 2006, Asif claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in Tests (6/44) and finished 11/71 in the game as Pakistan won by eight wickets.

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Mohammad Asif
Mohammad Asif (Image Credit: Twitter)

During Pakistan’s tour of England in 2010, Asif picked his 100th Test wicket in just his 20th Test and before he could become a vehement force in the globe tragedy stuck him.

Everyone raves about Mohammad Asif.: Wasim Akram

Asif along with Pakistan teammates Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir was accused of spot-fixing at Lord’s in September 2010. He was charged for bowling pre-planned no-balls and was slapped with a seven-year ban but never returned to play the game, unlike Amir.

“Everyone raves about Mohammad Asif. I mean talent wasted no doubt. Whoever I talk to…that kind of bowler I saw after a long time. The way he would control the ball. He could swing both ways. It’s very unfortunate for him and of course for Pakistan too,” Akram said on a YouTube show “To Be Honest 3.0”.

Wasim Akram. Photo- Twitter
Wasim Akram. Photo- Getty

“I have not seen him for ages. It’s been 10 years since I came to Karachi, I go to Lahore very less,” he added.

Asif had plans to open a cricket academy in the United States of America and conducts a coaching camp for kids there.

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