What's new

Asif Ali can be to Pakistan what Jos Buttler is to England

Impressive knock today, needs to work hard on taking it to the end and winning the game.
 
Finally showed his potential.

My advice for him is take some time in the middle when you come at the crease and reap your fruits.

Wish him success for in the future!
 
Did better today because instead of blindly slogging at everything he also took singles and doubles in between the big shots. Well played need more of this from him.
 
Well played Asif. ...
Malik has no place now.
Its either Hafeez or Haris
 
Syed1 said:
He has ability, we all knew that. You cannot hit monster sixes if you do not have ability. The issue was consistency and lack of giving himself time. Too often he would come in and hit the ball out of the park and be dismissed next ball.


Today he took his time and it paid off. Had he lasted 10 more balls Pak would have won.
Click to expand...

The problem is he didn't last 10 more balls and I still don't remember seeing him take us to any wins. Finishing a game is the difference between a true player and a flat track bully. He batted well, but when it got to the crunch he missed out on two very hittable balls and gave his wicket. I'm hoping he can use this knock to build confidence and use it to maybe win games rather than just threaten to.
 
Markhor said:
When has Faheem done anything of note with the bat in international cricket against a decent side ? All I remember is a fifty vs Bangladesh with a 30m boundary on one side in an inconsequential warmup and a few runs in a Test at Lord's vs England.

His batting contributions have been so lacking I'd rather we forget playing a fourth seamer and play our three best seamers, and three spinners in the WC in Imad, Shadab and Hafeez.
Click to expand...

Yeah, Faheem hasn't done anything yet, but I saw him in the PSL where he was hitting some monster sixes.

If he can't replicate that at intl level, should be discarded as well eventually.
 
Another score like this in the series and Malik is definitely going back to Pakistan.
 
He got a life today, should have finished off the game. He's certainly better than Malik who averages 13.
 
mak36 said:
This isn't a comparison thread.

Fact is, Pakistan needs the likes of Asif.
Click to expand...

It's not a comparison thread vis a vis, but Buttler is mentioned and is now one of their premier players. Ali done okay last game but when he had an opportunity to take Pakistan home, he blew it. This could be a combination of lack of quality, fitness and mental state. I could see Umar Akmal play a knock like that and we all know what happened to him.
 
Kroll said:
It's not a comparison thread vis a vis, but Buttler is mentioned and is now one of their premier players. Ali done okay last game but when he had an opportunity to take Pakistan home, he blew it. This could be a combination of lack of quality, fitness and mental state. I could see Umar Akmal play a knock like that and we all know what happened to him.
Click to expand...

You sure about that?



Umar Akmal has not scored an international ODI half century in the last 15 times he has batted.
 
Syed1 said:
You sure about that?



Umar Akmal has not scored an international ODI half century in the last 15 times he has batted.
Click to expand...

Ok, but we don't want Ali to be someone who hits a few big shots and then gets out which eventually leads to the team losing like yesterday. Hopefully, he takes some confidence from his innings and looks to improve his overall game and match awareness.
 
He's playing good today. The situation was good for him today, come in with a decent platform and 20+ overs to bat. He can definitely book a WC space with a good innings today.
 
Next goal should be a 100. Want him to really announce himself.
 
Pakistan needed Umar Akmal and Asif Ali. Two confirmed firepowers in the lower order. Batting Line is too one dimensional
 
It shows that he is a smart cricketer and not just 6's and 4's.

If he can learn to stay till the end Pakistan have a great finisher on their hands.

He's certainly shown progress from his Asia Cup exploits.

Clearly the most impressive power hitter to come from Pakistan since Umar Akmal
 
Hafeez is better than Asif. Play him at Asif’s position and then shadab instead of imad and Amir instead of faheem. That is our best 11 I think. Asif can’t play short bowl and also struggles against quality spin
 
Asif Ali humble pie thread

i'll own up to it, coming into world cup i had little hopes of him turning up with some consistent scores as well as some of the shots (first 6 today), he may get out earlier today (innings in progress) but he has exceeded my expectations already.

who else feels the same? :misbah3 :wy
 
mon858 said:
i'll own up to it, coming into world cup i had little hopes of him turning up with some consistent scores as well as some of the shots (first 6 today), he may get out earlier today (innings in progress) but he has exceeded my expectations already.

who else feels the same? :misbah3 :wy
Click to expand...

I think he's probably good enough to make the 15 man squad
 
Conspicuously failed to finish yet again. I have grave doubts about his temperament, but we need someone who can hit the ball a long way. Those three dot balls where he was flailing and missing desperately at the slower balls were demoralising.
 
I want to give him 2 more chances (vs SL and Aus). If he can strike the ball at 140+ S/R and even scores 30 runs it's all we need from that position and he can become a specialist pinch hitter. That's the hope anyway.
 
[MENTION=147314]topspin[/MENTION]

Not really sold on him tbh. I know he looked good in the England series but those were just 50 odd knocks.

I think it be a great move to promote Asif Ali during the 10 over period between 31-40.

One less fielder outside the circle means less chances of him getting out.

IIRC Imam and Asif had a great partnership from overs 31-40 in the match we scored 358.
 
Asif Ali is poor mans Buttler

But even being that means you’re in good position overall
 
Chokli said:
[MENTION=147314]topspin[/MENTION]

Not really sold on him tbh. I know he looked good in the England series but those were just 50 odd knocks.

I think it be a great move to promote Asif Ali during the 10 over period between 31-40.

One less fielder outside the circle means less chances of him getting out.

IIRC Imam and Asif had a great partnership from overs 31-40 in the match we scored 358.
Click to expand...

Lol thanks for recovering this, saw your last one before it all got removed lol.

The problem with dropping him is we have to resort to a lower order of: Malik, Imad (in his place) and Shadab.

Imad is good hitter, who just needs to work on playing the short ball, but the other 2 names are garbage as far as hitting is concerned.

Asif Ali may well be just be a short-term project until the next WT20, but I do back him to deliver in a few games. He’s not someone who you can expect to be consistent, but he’s in good touch. A bit unlucky with his dismissal, a couple of feet either side of the fielder, that was a certain six because of how well it was struck.


He hit asimilar ball against Archer for a brilliant six earlier in the innings, now who in this batting line-up can hit a tall express bowler like Archer and shorter slower ball for sixes proficiently as he can? The only 2 players outside this squad who can are Sharjeel and Umar Akmal. The point is we need his skill set.
 
Last edited:
Asif needs to play every game, he's a match winner. The ball he got out on would have sailed over the ropes for six on any other day, nailed it to Bairstow instead.
 
He needs more time, I think he has the potential and clearly going through a lot at the moment because his daughter passed away...give him time.
 
We need him,the shot that got him out was a very good one,would have been six if it hadn't gone straight to bairstow.
 
Honestly keep him in the final XI for each game till the very end, there is simply no one that can provide the innings impetus besides Ali and Hafeez down the order. Watching Sarfraz live it was a good innings but he came in a little later then he should have when we needed him more vs spin in the middle, he operates at one pace throughout which is why he is great for no.4 spot. Then down the order the likes of Hafeez and Ali can kick on, also have a bit more time to get their eye in as well.
 
Asif Ali would've become a great Buttler-esque type player had he been groomed in an environment seen in England and India. But because he's Pakistani, his shot selection leaves a lot to be desired. Nevertheless, he is a necessity for this batting lineup. A 30 at 150-200 SR is also good for Pakistan.
 
He's a homeless man's Buttler. With Buttler, you feel like every ball can go for six but with Asif Ali you know you're going to get your fair share of swings and misses.
 
Most useless passenger hogging the no.7 spot since afridi. reminds me of the equally incompetent slogger from the 90's basit ali. comparing him to a champion-batsman like buttler :))

Either of Faheem Ashraf or Imad Wasim would've been much more valuable addition, but there is a national obsession with mindless-sloggers in pakistan. :afridi1
 
Asif could have been an invaluable asset for PAK team had he added a 2nd skill - most preferably W Keeping. These days for LO cricket, requirement of keeping skills are not that high - if he was 7-8 years younger, I would have suggested to work really hard under a pro coach and develop keeping skills. A WK like him at No. 7 will be MVP of this PAK team, for whom since Akmals, every WK is a grafter with bat.
 
To be honest with you I find Shahid Afridi a more useful player in his position than Asif Ali with the bat.
 
MMHS said:
Asif could have been an invaluable asset for PAK team had he added a 2nd skill - most preferably W Keeping. These days for LO cricket, requirement of keeping skills are not that high - if he was 7-8 years younger, I would have suggested to work really hard under a pro coach and develop keeping skills. A WK like him at No. 7 will be MVP of this PAK team, for whom since Akmals, every WK is a grafter with bat.
Click to expand...
Agreed. I guess its too late now for him to learn some keeping. You dont need to be a genius to keep better than Sarfaraz.
 
ExplicitAI said:
To be honest with you I find Shahid Afridi a more useful player in his position than Asif Ali with the bat.
Click to expand...

Afridi, despite his maddening inconsistency with the bat, has had match winning knocks and has won us plenty of games with bat and ball.

Asif is at 0 to go along with his terrible fielding and zero bowling to speak of. Currently sits at 29.66 in 13 innings. SR is fantastic at 130.88 but what an incredible one dimensional player he is. If this was England's or India's batting lineup where they bat so deep, he would fit in nicely but in Pakistan, where batting is unreliable and collapses are common, you can't afford to have a player like this.

And frankly speaking, Pakistan batting isn't constructed to put up 350+ consistently, they have to aim for scores around 300 and trust their bowling is good enough to win it. Pakistan have never been a team to put up gigantic scores to win, they win because of their bowling and that's how they've won WC & CT in the past.
 
I think this forum doesn't understand Jos Buttler. They think he is just a finisher . This isn't the case . He is able to adjust his game according to the situation and plays proper cricketing shots 360 degrees around the ground. Yesterday he played himself in before letting himself loose. Asif Ali would not have been able to do that. He would have just aimed to hit from the get go.

I think comparing Asif Ali with Buttler is extremely disrespectful to Buttler and shows a lack of understanding to how Buttler plays.
 
Lets start with an average of 40 at 105 SR shall we.

He should be used as opener with Fakhar. Imam at no.3

100/1 in first 10 overs is a good start.
 
Last edited:
Flat_Track_Bully said:
Lets start with an average of 40 at 105 SR shall we.

He should be used as opener with Fakhar. Imam at no.3

100/1 in first 10 overs is a good start.
Click to expand...

Asif Ali in top 3 may work if we are batting on a pancake against average bowlers.

Number 6 is his spot. Personally i would have never invested on a player who averages so poorly in domestic cricket but now that he is in the team, he’s got to play all games.
 
[MENTION=139505]Ilan Bluestone[/MENTION]

Thoughts on Asif Ali at 7?
 
He has shots, he has power & he has a heart to hit fast bowlers which all other Pakistanis are lacking but the only thing he need to develop is patience. His target should be to play till last over.
 
He needs to be in the XI because barring Hafeez, nobody else can provide the finishing ability. Malik should be sacrificed if Haris is played.
 
Asif Ali has the ability to hit big and in Pakistan, the lower order hitters have completely disappeared, so yes we do need him, but he can never be Jos Buttler as Buttler is just from another planet. Cricket has changed a lot as these flat pitches can make any power hitter look amazing and I completely dislike what ICC is doing to this great game of cricket.
 
He is a problem.. he thinks he is specialist six hitter. Yesterday on the ball he got out.. could have been easily hit for 4. But he chose to muscle it to bairstow. Which shows his hitting capability comes from premeditated approach.
And from my experience of playing cricket, if you already planned to muscle the ball, there is a probability of getting out more often than not.
 
Can’t be compared to butler, but he’s important to Pak team.this year has been very harsh for Asif and his family, I’m hoping he do really good with bat!
 
mak36 said:
This isn't a comparison thread.

Fact is, Pakistan needs the likes of Asif.
Click to expand...

Butler is reliable with 10 times more ability and skill in comparison to Asif and on top of that he is a wicketkeeper someone who can walk into Pakistan side just based on his keeping skills. How on earth now Asif can be to Pakistan what Butler is to England?

Butler is not a mindless slogger he is a proper player who can anchor the inning and finish it he adds the value as a wicketkeeper.
 
abughio said:
He is a problem.. he thinks he is specialist six hitter. Yesterday on the ball he got out.. could have been easily hit for 4. But he chose to muscle it to bairstow. Which shows his hitting capability comes from premeditated approach.
And from my experience of playing cricket, if you already planned to muscle the ball, there is a probability of getting out more often than not.
Click to expand...

Typical glory shot Afridi type player. Not good enough until he can grind out 50+ deep scores. At the moment looks good for a quick 20 but even a tailender can deliver that.
 
Chokli said:
[MENTION=139505]Ilan Bluestone[/MENTION]

Thoughts on Asif Ali at 7?
Click to expand...

Whether I like his batting ability or not, in terms of skill, he is what looks to be a legside slogger.

The thing is though, he is the type of player who can really impact an innings, and is a necessity in the modern game.

He had two quick fifties, and a few blitzes in the series in England which is impressive, so I think despite his limitations, he deserves a spot.

To me the problem with him comes if you are chasing a big total. He is not the type of player who can score a century (3 in 58 LA innings is okay, solid I guess for a pinch hitter), so you have to play him correctly. For example if you are chasing 350, might be better to bring him in early to score quick runs, as you expect him to eventually make a mistake and then bring the RRR lower, so as to relax the players who play long innings.

Scoring in England and doing pretty much exactly what he is meant to do, for me, has him on the squad no matter what. I wish we had a player of his ability who could score on the offside as well and also read balls that are not to be hit, but he has really good hands. If he could use his wit a little bit more, he could be a solid 35 average player with a 100+ SR.

Blessings to him and his family in this tough time. I am rooting for his success. No man should have to go through what he has, and I hope he does well for the angel watching down on him.
 
Flat_Track_Bully said:
Typical glory shot Afridi type player. Not good enough until he can grind out 50+ deep scores. At the moment looks good for a quick 20 but even a tailender can deliver that.
Click to expand...

You're right, but he is a necessity, and not only that, he has done really well in England recently for what is required. 2 fifties, a quick 20, in 3/4 innings is pretty much what you look for in a pinch hitting type player.

It is not in the best of the best class, far from it, but he might be the best Pakistan has to offer.
 
If he could bowl a few overs then maybe he could have poor mans Maxwell.
Buttler is world Class, in the league of Kholi-Gilchrist-Abd with his X Factor
 
Buttler is the greatest limited overs batsmen to have come from Europe.
 
Finisher said:
If he could bowl a few overs then maybe he could have poor mans Maxwell.
Buttler is world Class, in the league of Kholi-Gilchrist-Abd with his X Factor
Click to expand...

You have to be a volleyball player to be a poor man's glenn maxwell.
as usual forum is full of some supremely bright ppl who think objective of thread to compare pedigree of buttler to asif ali.
 
Keeping aside comparision with Butler. I can see where OP is coming from.

Pakistan is in crying need for a finisher ever since Razaak and Afridi have gone.

Since Hafeez may not stick around longer Asif must be developed and he must start thing of 4's Instead of a Six every time he hits the ball.

He can certainly play uppishly when the ball.is in his arc but someone must teach him to use the angles and cut down on risk

He is massively talented and we cant afford another such talent going familiar downhill path.
 
Ilan Bluestone said:
Whether I like his batting ability or not, in terms of skill, he is what looks to be a legside slogger.

The thing is though, he is the type of player who can really impact an innings, and is a necessity in the modern game.
Click to expand...

That is exactly what Afridi was and he was hated, plus he was a gun fielder and a good bowler.

He had two quick fifties, and a few blitzes in the series in England which is impressive, so I think despite his limitations, he deserves a spot.
Click to expand...

On the flattest pitches on earth where 360 was chased inside 45 overs all he could manage was a 50.

To me the problem with him comes if you are chasing a big total. He is not the type of player who can score a century (3 in 58 LA innings is okay, solid I guess for a pinch hitter), so you have to play him correctly. For example if you are chasing 350, might be better to bring him in early to score quick runs, as you expect him to eventually make a mistake and then bring the RRR lower, so as to relax the players who play long innings.
Click to expand...

He's not good enough, he won't come off every single match and to carry someone who comes off once in a blue moon AND doesn't bowl or field well is asking for trouble.

Scoring in England and doing pretty much exactly what he is meant to do, for me, has him on the squad no matter what. I wish we had a player of his ability who could score on the offside as well and also read balls that are not to be hit, but he has really good hands. If he could use his wit a little bit more, he could be a solid 35 average player with a 100+ SR.
.
Click to expand...

We scored 348 versus England without much from him, if we can score 348 without Asif Ali then we don't need Asif Ali
 
Asif Ali can't bowl
Asif Ali can't field

He is not someone who will give you 80(40) but rather 50(30) every now and then.

He is NOT someone Pakistan should be persisting with.

He absolutely ruins the balance.

HE is a poor mans Afridi.
 
This has to be the most ridiculous thread ever. He is not even cut for ODI cricket, and you are comparing him with Buttler, lol.
 
He hasn't batted today but mentally I am already calculating how we can win without much of a contribution from him. He's good only for hitting a couple of big shots in a losing effort. The thought of this guy being a finisher just seems totally misplaced.
 
Embarrassing thread. I don't care what you are comparing. Asif Ali is useful for a couple of 6s that's it.
 
T20 league material, not fit for International cricket.
 
I said too much when thought he'll get thirty on average. Should have said three.

Embarrassing technique, embarrassing hitting and just an embarrassing cricketer all round. And he's a Pakistani hero so that makes sense.
 
Well he could have proved me wrong, instead he just keeps proving me right. The guy doesn't have big game mentality, he showed it with his dropped catches, and he showed it again and again with his wishy washy batting. Only good for bullying departmental teams back in Pakistan.
 
Lol. More embarrassment awaits you, afridi lovers, who are having withdrawals and wants Asif ali, the new hit or miss. This guy will drop a catch in semi final or in a knock out. I can bet my life on it, as he is so pathetic.

Also, have you seen his failure rate? And inconsistency? No wonder afridi survived in Pakistan for so long. This is another such guy.
 
He was never an international calible player, people were just so desperate for a "six hitter" they choose to overlook all his many flaws

Horrible fielder by modern standards
Nothing batsmen
 
Hasan123 said:
He's useful in T20s. But I don't mind him being booted out all together. His fielding shows he doesn't have the desire to improve.
Click to expand...

T20s yes he can play there but no place in ODIS

Those two 50s on the flattest pitches on earth did a lot of long term damage.
 
adil79 said:
Lol. More embarrassment awaits you, afridi lovers, who are having withdrawals and wants Asif ali, the new hit or miss. This guy will drop a catch in semi final or in a knock out. I can bet my life on it, as he is so pathetic.

Also, have you seen his failure rate? And inconsistency? No wonder afridi survived in Pakistan for so long. This is another such guy.
Click to expand...

Afridi lacked technique, but he still won the odd game. I don't think this guy has the mental strength to do that so I wouldn't put him in the same bracket.
 
Hasan Ali is playing the Asif Ali role since Asif Ali is so useless.
 
adil79 said:
Lol. More embarrassment awaits you, afridi lovers, who are having withdrawals and wants Asif ali, the new hit or miss. This guy will drop a catch in semi final or in a knock out. I can bet my life on it, as he is so pathetic.

Also, have you seen his failure rate? And inconsistency? No wonder afridi survived in Pakistan for so long. This is another such guy.
Click to expand...

Asif Ali isn't anywhere close to Afridi. Afridi at his prime could turn a match in minutes. Asif had done absolutely nothing.. This is to say nothing of batting and fielding comparisons
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

shaz619
Jos Buttler sacrifices his opening position for Phil Salt and Will Jacks in T20Is
Replies
61
Views
2K
Greenstorm
Greenstorm
The Bald Eagle
  • Poll Poll
[PICTURE] Can Shreyas Iyer be the next captain cool for team India?
Replies
17
Views
770
Mamoon
Mamoon
Savak
The long ropes Saim Ayub, Asif Ali, Khusdil Shah, Iftikhar Ahmed were given vs other youngsters?
Replies
5
Views
532
Hellion
H
BouncerGuy
“I do not think Babar Azam or Mohammad Rizwan can be ruled out completely”: Salman Butt
Replies
18
Views
1K
RedwoodOriginal
RedwoodOriginal
Ball Blazer
[EXCLUSIVE] “My injury was a test, but there’s always good times after testing times”: Hassan Ali
Replies
13
Views
712
TheSultan
T
Back
Top