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How many wickets could Mohammad Asif have taken had he played more games for Pakistan?

Mueez

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Muhammad Asif - a magician with the ball.

Bowled against great batsmen with ease, be it SRT, ABD or Sehwag...

Had all the skills at his disposal but wasted his career :(

How many wickets could’ve Muhammad Asif achieved had he been playing for Pakistan?

Ended his wicket tally with 46 ODI, 13 T20 and 106 Test wickets.

Enjoy the video and discuss what he could’ve been for Pakistan...

 
Its all speculation. He would have had to play a lot of games in the UAE. Asif barring one green pitch in Australia struggled badly there. He also did not do well in a decent amount of games in Pakistan. He was very lucky to have played a lot of games on wickets which had something for the pacers and to his credit he was the kind of bowler who knew how to make the most out of anything available in the pitch so his wickets shouldn't be discounted.
 
Its all speculation. He would have had to play a lot of games in the UAE. Asif barring one green pitch in Australia struggled badly there. He also did not do well in a decent amount of games in Pakistan. He was very lucky to have played a lot of games on wickets which had something for the pacers and to his credit he was the kind of bowler who knew how to make the most out of anything available in the pitch so his wickets shouldn't be discounted.

I agree. It would have tested his fitness and determination had he bowled on the slow UAE pitches.

But one thing is for sure - on sporting wickets he could wreak havoc.
 
There are two possible outcomes IMO.
1. One where Pakistan hosted all of its home games in UAE. In this scenario I don't think Asif would have gotten alot of wickets but combining the away tours in SENA I think he would have gotten around 225 wickets overall.
2. Where Pakistan hosted most of it's home games in England because that fixing scandal didn't happen in this alternate universe. So in this scenario I'd back Asif to run through most of the sides & end up with 325-350 wickets.
 
Fourth highest wicket taker in tests for Pakistan surpassing Kaneria.

Also, I hope you guys don’t judge him based on UAE wickets. We would have been playing in England if the spot fixing scandal didn’t happen. We also barely played in India after that. So by that bench mark, he would have done fantastic since his main conditions to bowl in would have been SENA.
 
Fourth highest wicket taker in tests for Pakistan surpassing Kaneria.

Also, I hope you guys don’t judge him based on UAE wickets. We would have been playing in England if the spot fixing scandal didn’t happen. We also barely played in India after that. So by that bench mark, he would have done fantastic since his main conditions to bowl in would have been SENA.

Valid point by you about Pakistan playing their matches in England.

Amir and Asif - what a sight that would’ve been...
 
With his life style (carrying drugs in his wallet, and also involved in fixing), he wouldnt have taken too many wickets.
 
Valid point by you about Pakistan playing their matches in England.

Amir and Asif - what a sight that would’ve been...

It’s alright. Too many “what if” scenarios in Pakistan cricket.

Shaheen and Naseem now iA. The two Shahs.
 
Asif had an easy action and wasn't very pacey so would probably be less injured unlike other fast bowlers.He was 27 in 2010 so he probably had at-least 5 to 7 years of cricket in him

Asif was still pretty new in International cricket at the time he got involved in fixing and he was not like a bumrah/Malinga/Tanvir or a mystery spinner who were successful because of their unorthodox bowling action.

Just see Asif record in Srilanka, if he gets any help on pitches he will be very lethal and I am sure Asif would be successful even on UAE pitches as Mohammad Abbas is.

Now Taking all these things into account I think he would end up with a minimum or worst case scenario 300+ test wickets.

In ODI and T20 though I think he was more like a economical rather than a wicket taker so it is tough to predict were he would end up, A wild guess would be 200+ ODI wickets and In t20 I think he would be dropped or something because with his pace he will be thrashed so I am guessing he wont play any t20

so overall its 500-550 wickkets all three formats
 
He would have been a Philander level bowler, destructive in conditions where bowl swings but would struggle on flat wickets. An Asian bowler will find things hard if he doesn't have the pace to run through the side.

I predict 250 test wickets at an average of 28-29.
 
He would have been a Philander level bowler, destructive in conditions where bowl swings but would struggle on flat wickets. An Asian bowler will find things hard if he doesn't have the pace to run through the side.

I predict 250 test wickets at an average of 28-29.

Your depiction is perfect. Asif was indeed just another Philander. Yes if he played, these are the number of wickets he could potentially have ended up with. But then again even this might not have been possible. He was always an unhinged individual, there is no telling which controversy he was going to end up in. Genius with the ball on the field, horrifically dumb off the field.
 
Your depiction is perfect. Asif was indeed just another Philander. Yes if he played, these are the number of wickets he could potentially have ended up with. But then again even this might not have been possible. He was always an unhinged individual, there is no telling which controversy he was going to end up in. Genius with the ball on the field, horrifically dumb off the field.

Yes, he was always under the controversies for some reasons or other, right from the start of his career.
 
He should have played:

4 Tests in England in 2016
5 Tests in Australia and New Zealand in 2016-17.
3 Tests in the West Indies in 2017, with a Dukes Ball.

I reckon - judging by his QEA Final exploits that season - that in those 12 Tests he would have taken 50 wickets at an average of around 25.

And Pakistan would have won 3-1 in England, 1-0 in New Zealand and they would have drawn 1-1 in Australia.
 
He should have played:

4 Tests in England in 2016
5 Tests in Australia and New Zealand in 2016-17.
3 Tests in the West Indies in 2017, with a Dukes Ball.

I reckon - judging by his QEA Final exploits that season - that in those 12 Tests he would have taken 50 wickets at an average of around 25.

And Pakistan would have won 3-1 in England, 1-0 in New Zealand and they would have drawn 1-1 in Australia.

I guess in NZ, he would have batted out last hour in second Test to bail out a draw draw it and taken like 7-26 in first innings of first Test to reverse that loss. Similarly, wound have taken 10-12 wickets at Old Trafford or Birmingham to turn one massive loss into win ... So I got it where 3-1 & 1-0 coming, but, I am wondering which Australian Test PAK would have won with Asif?
 
He should have played:

4 Tests in England in 2016
5 Tests in Australia and New Zealand in 2016-17.
3 Tests in the West Indies in 2017, with a Dukes Ball.

I reckon - judging by his QEA Final exploits that season - that in those 12 Tests he would have taken 50 wickets at an average of around 25.

And Pakistan would have won 3-1 in England, 1-0 in New Zealand and they would have drawn 1-1 in Australia.

This tells us - that he could’ve been an impact player for Pakistan...

Such a loss. A shame we will never see him bowl again.
 
I guess in NZ, he would have batted out last hour in second Test to bail out a draw draw it and taken like 7-26 in first innings of first Test to reverse that loss. Similarly, wound have taken 10-12 wickets at Old Trafford or Birmingham to turn one massive loss into win ... So I got it where 3-1 & 1-0 coming, but, I am wondering which Australian Test PAK would have won with Asif?

The First Test in NZ was only lost because the Pakistan pace bowling lacked depth.

The Second Test was only lost because 9 wickets were lost after Tea on Day 5 while trying to level the series.

The Gabba Test was similar. Amir and Wahab each took 4 wickets in the first Aussie innings but Rahat and Yasir offered no support. If Asif had played a 30 run loss would have been a victory with Australia dismissed for 250 by the pink ball on Day 1, preventing the Pakistan collapse in the twilight on Day 2.
 
Can’t wait for the two Shah’s bro!

Exciting times ahead for Pakistani fans.

Bro I just realized, Shaheen Shah is basically “shahanshah”.

Why has no one started calling him this yet???
 
At least 350 Test wickets.

PCB curators would be forced to create more life on UAE wickets to support their Ace bowler.
 
Bro I just realized, Shaheen Shah is basically “shahanshah”.

Why has no one started calling him this yet???

“Shahanshah-e-Naseem” - the king of breezes :))

They will blow out the opposition with their fast-bowling :akhtar
 
The First Test in NZ was only lost because the Pakistan pace bowling lacked depth.

The Second Test was only lost because 9 wickets were lost after Tea on Day 5 while trying to level the series.

The Gabba Test was similar. Amir and Wahab each took 4 wickets in the first Aussie innings but Rahat and Yasir offered no support. If Asif had played a 30 run loss would have been a victory with Australia dismissed for 250 by the pink ball on Day 1, preventing the Pakistan collapse in the twilight on Day 2.

Boss, these days PP is a bit different place hence your “over enthusiastic” posts actually get praise from PAK corner, at least it doesn’t get much challenge. But, some of your posts actually would have been lambasted by PAK posters first few years back, because it often ends up trolling PAK cricket and the cricket intelligence of posters here. That’s one of the signs of a collapsing dynasty - people fail to identify what is praise & what is trolling; what brings pride and what brings laughter.

In that first Test at Hagley Oval, PAK scored 133 & 171 with bat, FGS. For the second Test, I have already accepted - Asif with his batting might would have saved the collapse. For the Gabba Test - haven’t we discussed enough to debunk your “twilight” theory? That game was close only because Smith was probably forced to bat second time by CA for a financial reason - otherwise, that game would have been over inside 3 days with Aussies batting once (business as usual in Australia), had he enforced the follow-on - his bowlers were fresh on third morning after over night rest.

Asif is one of my favourites and I can bet, I have written much more than you on his bowling skills here - but to praise him, I request, please don’t insult other teams or the cricket intelligence of sensible posters here. In recent times I see an alarming trend in your posts - 1. eight of the SAF players won’t get into PAK C (that’s after many of those playing in that famous series against where SAF cost it’s Board 6 days gate money out of 15...), 2. Mickey Arthur would have been desperate to take PAK coaching job instead of SRL, because of the exciting talent pool, 3. Babar is the best batsman in Test world, already surpassing Smith and only Kohli is close to him, 4. There is not much difference between Mitchell Starc & Wahab Riaz, 5. Kerry Packer didn’t pick any Indian because of their lack of courage & persona ...... now this one.

I don’t think PAK cricket needs these, neither required also. We can praise or support PAK cricket or players with their individual achievements and skills, without dragging others on the mat.
 
And [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION], I believe you are talking about the exploits of 2015-16 QEA final - am not sure what you judged there, but I forgot, so had to take a second look. It reads 18’1 - 4 - 29 - 4.... those four mighty wickets of Imam Ul Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Imran Farhat & Rameez Aziz - on a typical PAK domestic wickets those days, and definitely not played with Dukes ball. Obviously, I believe you are not judging here by his second innings exploits of 15 - 1 - 62 - 0. That’s indeed an average of four wickets at 23 ..... prorated into 12 Tests, it should come around 50 wickets at 25.......


However, I do believe the would have taken more than 50 wickets had he played those 12 Tests 5/6 years back before his ban - probably something like 58-63 wickets at around 23-25, between 2010-12; but not sure about that after wilderness of five years, after all sorts of entertainment and at the official age of almost 35. And, for that Australia tour, it was good for him that he didn’t play that series - other wise his career average wound have crossed 25.
 
Its all speculation. He would have had to play a lot of games in the UAE. Asif barring one green pitch in Australia struggled badly there. He also did not do well in a decent amount of games in Pakistan. He was very lucky to have played a lot of games on wickets which had something for the pacers and to his credit he was the kind of bowler who knew how to make the most out of anything available in the pitch so his wickets shouldn't be discounted.

Don't think he would've bowled in UAE due to him being done for nandrolin drug charge
 
Boss, these days PP is a bit different place hence your “over enthusiastic” posts actually get praise from PAK corner, at least it doesn’t get much challenge. But, some of your posts actually would have been lambasted by PAK posters first few years back, because it often ends up trolling PAK cricket and the cricket intelligence of posters here. That’s one of the signs of a collapsing dynasty - people fail to identify what is praise & what is trolling; what brings pride and what brings laughter.

In that first Test at Hagley Oval, PAK scored 133 & 171 with bat, FGS. For the second Test, I have already accepted - Asif with his batting might would have saved the collapse. For the Gabba Test - haven’t we discussed enough to debunk your “twilight” theory? That game was close only because Smith was probably forced to bat second time by CA for a financial reason - otherwise, that game would have been over inside 3 days with Aussies batting once (business as usual in Australia), had he enforced the follow-on - his bowlers were fresh on third morning after over night rest.

Asif is one of my favourites and I can bet, I have written much more than you on his bowling skills here - but to praise him, I request, please don’t insult other teams or the cricket intelligence of sensible posters here. In recent times I see an alarming trend in your posts - 1. eight of the SAF players won’t get into PAK C (that’s after many of those playing in that famous series against where SAF cost it’s Board 6 days gate money out of 15...), 2. Mickey Arthur would have been desperate to take PAK coaching job instead of SRL, because of the exciting talent pool, 3. Babar is the best batsman in Test world, already surpassing Smith and only Kohli is close to him, 4. There is not much difference between Mitchell Starc & Wahab Riaz, 5. Kerry Packer didn’t pick any Indian because of their lack of courage & persona ...... now this one.

I don’t think PAK cricket needs these, neither required also. We can praise or support PAK cricket or players with their individual achievements and skills, without dragging others on the mat.
[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] can you elaborate on that?
 
[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] can you elaborate on that?

I can elaborate, but can't prove, so don't catch me on that.

PAK was all-out on Day 3 (within 10-12 overs) for 142, facing a deficit of around 280, and Smith's pacers were fresh - logic tells that you should enforce the follow-on that time and end the game as early as possible. Normally, teams don't enforce the follow-on when there is enough time (no weather threat) and bowlers are tiered, to give them an over night rest (after day 3, often teams are all-out in a possible follow-on situation by tea of Day 3, means bowlers are tiered after 80-90 overs and 50-60 on that particular day - it was not the case at Gabba - AUS bowled 55 in total, 43 in Day 2 and 12 in Day 3 morning, opening bowlers would have rested as well after opening spell during 1st break of 3rd day, only 10-12 overs bowled by PAK in that session). A 3 day Test is a MASSIVE loss for ENG/AUS boards because of the huge gate money they receive, also tv commercial revenue is based on the actual game time, not the duration of the match - this is one reason, every board tries to play an ODI/T20 even in extreme conditions and these days, they don't put an extra day for weather interrupted games.
 
He could have been great pakistan bowler. Had the skills to be a wicket taker, mysterious with his swing bowling. Unfortunately he did end having the career he could have.
 
In the little time that he was there, “dunya hila ke rakh di thi” in his own words. Who knows, if he had played longer he might have faded away like many before him. He shined brightly while he lasted and let’s be grateful for that.

That being said, he might have caused additional problems within the team with his lack of discipline. Might never have played much anyways even if Salman Butt had never been born.
 
Sadly always seemed to be in the wrong crowd, the wrong group of friends and with the wrong company.

Can't be by accident can it.
 
Sadly always seemed to be in the wrong crowd, the wrong group of friends and with the wrong company.

Can't be by accident can it.

The guy always had the mindset of a criminal
 
Sadly always seemed to be in the wrong crowd, the wrong group of friends and with the wrong company.

Can't be by accident can it.
Sadly greed got the better out of him.

I guess he doesn’t know how much he has lost whilst doing all these kind of things...

Such a pity.
 
Asif is a wonderful bowler - more skilled than Styen & Jimmy, but he was a late bloomer. I am sure he would have maintained a fantastic average, but not sure about the volume.

One reason is that PAK plays (played) too few Tests and he also won’t have last that long to play like 100 Tests. Apart from that, another issue is that he played for a poor PAK side - not sure how many times he could have got a full second innings to accumulate wickets. Also in UAE, PAK Captains (I believe the reason Asif couldn’t play many Tests was blessings for Misbah - he was not even in frame before August 2010 incidents), won’t have used him for long spells, means his average/SR would have remained intact, but his wicket/Test would have reduced for UAE home. At the same times, he would have been benighted by Amir from other end. Being a specialist new ball bowler, his SR should be better, but economy poor, because he would have been used for the kill.

Net, net I believe he was good enough for these figures

58 Tests, 256 wickets at 23.35/48/2.92 stats with 16-18 5fors and may be 3 10fors. And, he probably would have ended with more Test wickets than runs. These are ATG equivalents for bowling stats and he was one on the path of making an ATG.
 
[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION]
The 2016 QEA Final was broadcast on YouTube.

Asif was majestic with the pink ball on Day 1, and it wasn’t even nighttime.

By the middle of the game there was no grass left, and nobody could dismiss anyone - hence Salman Butt’s twin centuries.

You can extrapolate that had he played the pink ball Gabba Test the same week he would have done really well. And Pakistan only lost by 30 runs.
 
[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION]
The 2016 QEA Final was broadcast on YouTube.

Asif was majestic with the pink ball on Day 1, and it wasn’t even nighttime.

By the middle of the game there was no grass left, and nobody could dismiss anyone - hence Salman Butt’s twin centuries.

You can extrapolate that had he played the pink ball Gabba Test the same week he would have done really well. And Pakistan only lost by 30 runs.

I believe, this is the game we are talking about
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...t-authority-final-quaid-e-azam-trophy-2016-17

I have seen that Final my self - yes he did move the ball on first morning ..... still Habib Bank scored 236, and you prorated that Aussies would have been all-out for 250 in that same week.

PAK indeed lost by 39 runs, but did you read my elaboration of that game, or did you really watch that Test? Also, I am bit confused with you explanation here - I have read countless times from you that Pink ball doesn't work after 25-30 overs (...so, teams should declare at the start of twilight zone, after batting 58 overs) .... Aussies won the toss and batted first - they were 182/3 at dinner with Smith in and 59 overs bowled .... how can this 59 overs old rag can bundle Aussies for 250? Also, by the time they got the second ball, 95 minutes later - shouldn't that "twilight" period be over?
 
I believe, this is the game we are talking about
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...t-authority-final-quaid-e-azam-trophy-2016-17

I have seen that Final my self - yes he did move the ball on first morning ..... still Habib Bank scored 236, and you prorated that Aussies would have been all-out for 250 in that same week.

PAK indeed lost by 39 runs, but did you read my elaboration of that game, or did you really watch that Test? Also, I am bit confused with you explanation here - I have read countless times from you that Pink ball doesn't work after 25-30 overs (...so, teams should declare at the start of twilight zone, after batting 58 overs) .... Aussies won the toss and batted first - they were 182/3 at dinner with Smith in and 59 overs bowled .... how can this 59 overs old rag can bundle Aussies for 250? Also, by the time they got the second ball, 95 minutes later - shouldn't that "twilight" period be over?
I was there.

Mohammad Amir looked dangerous until just before dinner - and the second new ball - when he got stuck in the turf and twisted his knee.

Until then I had expected a score of 182-3 at dinner to be 220-5 at the second new ball and yes, roughly 250 all out. At Brisbane night falls before Dinner. And Pakistan collapsed at the exact same time the following evening.

Without Amir there was no one equipped to use the pink ball, although Wahab laboured bravely.
 
I was there.

Mohammad Amir looked dangerous until just before dinner - and the second new ball - when he got stuck in the turf and twisted his knee.

Until then I had expected a score of 182-3 at dinner to be 220-5 at the second new ball and yes, roughly 250 all out. At Brisbane night falls before Dinner. And Pakistan collapsed at the exact same time the following evening.

Without Amir there was no one equipped to use the pink ball, although Wahab laboured bravely.

I am not sure what you saw there seating on the stands, but I saw it over streaming - Amir got injured sometimes around 70th over, when he wasn’t bowling either, went back to dressing room but came back within few minutes - and bowled the 81st over with second new ball, bowled 5 overs at a stress till day end and Aussie pair of Smith & Handscomb survived the day unscathed.
 
Probably around 250. His fitness was questionable and he regularly struggled on flat wickets. He may not have been particularly successful on UAE pitches.
 
He would have picked a lot of wickets around 350. If Mohammad Abbas can be successful in UAE.Asif surely would have been succeeded too.He was way too talented.
 
Sadly greed got the better out of him.

I guess he doesn’t know how much he has lost whilst doing all these kind of things...

Such a pity.

I don't even think it was greed, it's just the lack of being able to judge right from wrong, which has plagued him throughout his cricket career, even going back to when he was playing club cricket in the UK.
 
I don't even think it was greed, it's just the lack of being able to judge right from wrong, which has plagued him throughout his cricket career, even going back to when he was playing club cricket in the UK.

All we can say: it wasn’t meant to be.

The lure of such things is just too tempting for some.

May the new youngsters learn from Asif’s mistake and choose the right direction.

You lose more than what you gain when you do such acts.
 
One thing is for sure - everyone rated/rates him highly.

That also reflects in the “predictions” which all of the posters have made - many had high hopes of him.
 
Probably around 250. His fitness was questionable and he regularly struggled on flat wickets. He may not have been particularly successful on UAE pitches.

Agreed. If I remember correctly, he never achieved 5fer in tests played in Asia did he?
 
Would have retired a Pakistan ATG, probably not all time, but still a top bowler of the decade he’d retire in. Purely talking tests.
 
He was similar to Philander, could have been Pakistan great but not ATG.
 
All we can say: it wasn’t meant to be.

The lure of such things is just too tempting for some.

May the new youngsters learn from Asif’s mistake and choose the right direction.

You lose more than what you gain when you do such acts.

It wasn't meant to be because it was his own stupidity that ruined his career.
 
Would have been slightly better than Philander, his name would've been mentioned alongside Ryan Harris, Dale Steyn, , James Anderson, Mitchell Johnson etc. If he kept his fitness up, put a lot of effort with some doctored pitches I think he would've reached 360+ wickets. I don't like how Test matches are set up, the rankings are unrealistic since I believe that every Test team should play an equal number of Tests, if we played regularly such as the likes of India, Eng and Aus, he would've touched the 400 wicket mark.
 
It wasn't meant to be because it was his own stupidity that ruined his career.

Absolutely there is no doubt he himself has to blame for this.

What a bowler he could’ve been...
 
And sadly these days he's scraping a living playing cricket in local parks, coaching club level or below cricketers when he can.

A wasted career.
 
And sadly these days he's scraping a living playing cricket in local parks, coaching club level or below cricketers when he can.

A wasted career.

This is so sad to read... unfortunately it is his own fault and we can do nothing about it.
 
he could've taken 500+ test wickets for sure, considering we ahve played in SA, NZ, ENG, AUS, Sharjah, SL quite a bit in the last 10 years.
 
If he played 70-80 tests which was likely barring injuries then 300-350 was the most likely range he would’ve ended up with at a sub 25 average as long as he bowled cleverly on flat wickets.
 
I want Asif to come out and expose the other fixers in that 2010 team that went undiscovered. Kamran for starters...
 
I want Asif to come out and expose the other fixers in that 2010 team that went undiscovered. Kamran for starters...

Totally agree!!! They all should have been exposed and humiliated.

Sadly, none of the old fixers have ever really dished out the details. For instance we will never truly know what when on in the 90s with Saleem Malik, Wasim and co.
Moin, Inzamam, Saeed, Mushtaq, they all at least knew what was going on even if they didn't actively participate.....
 
150-170 wickets , considering his age , speed and habit of getting involved in different scandals.
He was special only on pitches which offered swing like ENG/SA/NZ. Otherwise , he was not producing match winning spells every now and then beside these countries. He was a good bowler but people here are clearly overhyping him. He was 128-132 km/h bowler at the time when he was caught and suspended. His speed was going to reduce, plus most of the matches pak played in UAE after that period , so i think he would have ended up with 150-170 wickets , had he not been caught in Fixing saga.
 
I want Asif to come out and expose the other fixers in that 2010 team that went undiscovered. Kamran for starters...
[MENTION=9]Saj[/MENTION] is too polite to say that we already know who they are - they were named in court during the Amir/Asif/Butt criminal case at Southwark Crown Court.

One of them is in the squad to return to England at the end of the month.
 
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Asif is playing in the upcoming US Open tournament in Florida.
 
In UAE he wouldnt have taken a lot of wickets, 200+ wouldve been a special achievement considering his nature.
 
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