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Full name Mohammad Asif
Born December 20, 1982, Sheikhupura, Punjab
Current age 25 years 202 days
Major teams Pakistan,Asia XI,Delhi Daredevils,Khan Research Labs,Lahore Division,Leicestershire,Sheikhupura Cricket Association,Sialkot Cricket Association
Playing role Bowler
Batting style Left-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm fast-medium
Batting and fielding averages
Mat
Inns
NO
Runs
HS
Ave
BF
SR
100
50
4s
6s
Ct
St
Tests
11
16
6
60
12*
6.00
223
26.90
0
0
6
0
2
0
ODIs
31
11
5
33
6
5.50
77
42.85
0
0
2
0
4
0
T20Is
9
1
1
4
4*
-
1
400.00
0
0
1
0
3
0
First-class
70
94
37
468
42
8.21
0
0
26
0
List A
63
28
16
181
40
15.08
0
0
16
0
Twenty20
30
6
2
20
12
5.00
31
64.51
0
0
1
1
10
0
Bowling averages
Mat
Inns
Balls
Runs
Wkts
BBI
BBM
Ave
Econ
SR
4w
5w
10
Tests
11
21
2334
1180
51
6/44
11/71
23.13
3.03
45.7
3
4
1
ODIs
31
29
1539
1198
36
3/28
3/28
33.27
4.67
42.7
0
0
0
T20Is
9
9
209
269
12
4/18
4/18
22.41
7.72
17.4
1
0
0
First-class
70
12589
6907
282
7/35
24.49
3.29
44.6
17
5
List A
63
2934
2366
69
4/30
4/30
34.28
4.83
42.5
1
0
0
Twenty20
30
29
688
867
42
5/11
5/11
20.64
7.56
16.3
3
1
0
Career statistics
Test debut
Australia v Pakistan at Sydney, Jan 2-5, 2005 scorecard
Last Test
Pakistan v South Africa at Lahore, Oct 8-12, 2007 scorecard
Test statistics
ODI debut
Pakistan v England at Rawalpindi, Dec 21, 2005 scorecard
Last ODI
Pakistan v Bangladesh at Karachi, Apr 19, 2008 scorecard
ODI statistics
T20I debut
England v Pakistan at Bristol, Aug 28, 2006 scorecard
Last T20I
India v Pakistan at Johannesburg, Sep 24, 2007 scorecard
T20I statistics
First-class debut
2000/01
Last First-class
Pakistan v South Africa at Lahore, Oct 8-12, 2007 scorecard
List A debut
1999/00
Last List A
Pakistan v Bangladesh at Karachi, Apr 19, 2008 scorecard
Twenty20 debut
Quetta Bears v Rawalpindi Rams at Lahore, Apr 25, 2005 scorecard
Last Twenty20
Delhi Daredevils v Rajasthan Royals at Mumbai, May 30, 2008 scorecard
Profile
When he made his debut against Australia at Sydney in January 2005, little suggested that Pakistan's long tradition of happening upon blitzing fast bowlers would continue. Bob Woolmer, then Pakistan coach, kept faith, calling Asif the most improved player in the country in late 2005. By taking ten wickets in a warm-up game against England, he proved Woolmer right. He made an impressive ODI debut one day after his 23rd birthday, dismissing Marcus Trescothick with his third ball and ending with 2 for 14 off seven incisive overs. Tall, lean and possessed of a little more muscle than on his debut, Asif initially generated pace a medium-pacer would aspire to and a tearaway would loosen up with, around mid to late 80mph. He has mind-numbing control over his bowling, a terrifically sharp bowling brain, stamina as well as the useful ability to seam the ball both ways on most pitches. His action has modified slightly since his debut, but is repetitive and claimed him seven plumb wickets at Karachi, as Pakistan sealed a famous home series win against India in early 2006. After that he blossomed magnificently. He was almost single-handedly responsible for Pakistan's Test series win in Sri Lanka, taking 17 wickets in two Tests. England seemed tailor-made for his particular gifts in the summer of 2006, but an elbow injury before the first Test ruled him out until the final Test, by which time Pakistan had lost the series. Problems began from here, not least the injury which has hampered him on and off since then. A promising career was then apparently cut short when he tested positive for a banned steroid, but the ban was eventually overturned, allowing him to continue. He returned to the international scene after being appointed vice captain for Pakistan's tour to Abu Dhabi after the 2007 World Cup and was back to his annoyingly best right from the start, though his pace has since been down. But just as he was recovering from the troublesome elbow, in June 2008, he was detained at Dubai airport, allegedly for possessing a recreational drug. He was eventually released after 19 days, though a second doping taint on one of the world's most promising young fast bowlers may be too much to clear away.
Osman Samiuddin (June 2008)
