"I said to Shoaib Malik don't worry, even if we need 25 off the last over we'll do it" : Asif Ali

[MenInG]

"I said to Shoaib Malik don't worry, even if we need 25 off the last over we'll do it" : Asif Ali

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Asif Ali "I said to Shoaib Malik don't worry, even if we need 25 off the last over we'll do it" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAKvAFG?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PAKvAFG</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/T20WorldCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#T20WorldCup</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/SajSadiqCricket/status/1454144909426954246?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2021</a></blockquote>
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==

Dashing batsman Asif Ali said he had been confident he would hit sixes after leading Pakistan to a hard-fought five-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the Twenty20 World Cup in Dubai on Friday.

The 30-year-old smashed pacer Karim Janat for four sixes in the 19th over to take Pakistan past a tricky 148-run target, giving them three wins in as many games in the Group 2 of the Super 12 Stages.

The 2009 champions now need one more win against either Namibia or Scotland to qualify for the semi-finals.

"I have confidence in my hitting and that paid off," said Asif after the match. "I hit sixes towards the longer side of the boundary."

Pakistan, chasing 148 to win, were well placed at 122-3 in the 17th over when Afghan leg-spinner Rashid Khan turned the match on its head, bowling Babar Azam for 51.

In the next over, Naveen-ul-Haq conceded just two runs and dismissed veteran Shoaib Malik for 19.

Shadab Khan came in for the last ball of the over and guided a shot into space, but Asif refused a single, taking the fate of the match in his hands.

With Pakistan needing 24 off the last two overs, he went on the rampage against Janat, smashing the first, third, fifth and sixth deliveries high over the boundary.

"Yes, I knew that there was a single, but I had confidence that I will hit sixes and score the needed runs," Asif said.

"They did not bowl towards the shorter boundaries but I hit him towards the longer side."

Asif said he had been practising batting under such pressure.

"My job is to hit sixes, so I practise in scenarios based on situations, needing to hit sixes in the last five overs type situations," he said.

Maligned for his poor form despite being given consistent chances by team management, Asif said he ignored criticism.

"I don't read what is said about me on social media and don't watch television so I don't know what is said about me in social media and that helps me focus on my work."

Pakistan play Namibia in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday followed by their last match against Scotland in Sharjah on November 7.

The top two teams from each Group qualify for the semi-finals.

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20211029-pakistan-s-asif-says-confidence-key-in-hitting-sixes

 

[MenInG]

How brave was that from Asif Ali?

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[Duckworth Lewis]

Should have conveyed the same to Shadab as well before the delivery to avoid confusion.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">That strike rate &#55357;&#56881;<br><br>Asif Ali was the finisher in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pakistan</a>'s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/T20WorldCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#T20WorldCup</a> win over <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a> &#55357;&#56908;<br><br>Watch the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAKvAFG?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PAKvAFG</a> highlights &#55357;&#56393; <a href="https://t.co/w9nUFdaBa3">https://t.co/w9nUFdaBa3</a> <a href="https://t.co/sPamDqLr6F">pic.twitter.com/sPamDqLr6F</a></p>— ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1454240404530995201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2021</a></blockquote>
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[MenInG]

The power-hitter

The swashbuckling Pakistan batter Asif Ali’s 7 sixes from 19 balls have won Pakistan two crucial games, against New Zealand and Afghanistan, in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021. He is the first batter from Pakistan to hit four sixes in an over in T20 Internationals. With Pakistan needing 24 off 12 balls, Asif launched four sixes in the penultimate over of the innings, bowled by Karim Janat, and sealed the game with an over to spare.

He needed only 7 balls to get the Player of the Match award, the least by any man who didn’t have a bowling role in a T20I game. The previous record in a full 20 overs international game was Dinesh Karthik’s 8-ball 29 against Bangladesh in Nidahas Trophy Final in Colombo in 2018.

Asif, who scored 100 on his T20 debut ten years ago and has hit 68 sixes in Pakistan Super League, is now showing his prowess in international cricket. In this T20 World Cup, he has scored 52 off 19 balls at a strike-rate of 273.68 and is the only batter alongside Evin Lewis with seven sixes in the Super 12s round so far.

 

[asifp]

While he has been amazing that was pretty terrible bowling. Six hit me deliveries.

Study the guy a bit, he can't play the short ball

 

[Major]

While he has been amazing that was pretty terrible bowling. Six hit me deliveries.

Study the guy a bit, he can't play the short ball

This is the problem of bowling yorkers.

Many fans complain about why pakistani bowlers dont bowl consisstent yorkers and the reason is you miss your length by an inch it goes for a shot.

Thats what the bowler did.

Asif has hit short balls for sixes too in the psl against good bowlers

 

[mazkhan]

I guarantee you asif ali will be exposed by England, Australia, South africa

It's one thing hitting karima Jannat from Afghanistan and then trying to tee off likes off nortje or rabada or the England quicks and Aussie bowlers vastly superior bowlers.

 

[Duckworth Lewis]

I guarantee you asif ali will be exposed by England, Australia, South africa

It's one thing hitting karima Jannat from Afghanistan and then trying to tee off likes off nortje or rabada or the England quicks and Aussie bowlers vastly superior bowlers.

He did it against Southee, Boult, Nortje. But I get it. Would have struggled against Rashid. Not going to be easy against the likes of Starc, Bumrah, Archer etc. Then it is not just Asif Ali. Even guys like Buttler, ABD will find it tough against the top bowlers. Pakistan needs to score better in PP and not always rely on Asif Ali.

 

[smkk]

He did it against Southee, Boult, Nortje. But I get it. Would have struggled against Rashid. Not going to be easy against the likes of Starc, Bumrah, Archer etc. Then it is not just Asif Ali. Even guys like Buttler, ABD will find it tough against the top bowlers. Pakistan needs to score better in PP and not always rely on Asif Ali.

This is the reason, Pak management did not let him face Rashid in the last night. You would notice that Babar was swinging his bat wildly in the last over of Rashid only, because that was intentional, he never plays like that ever. He did not care whether he get out, because at the end he would either get a boundary or get out to bring in Asif Ali. That was a good strategy by the captain.

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

Asif was a big failure and disappointment in 2 CPL seasons.
HE HAS PROVEN ME WRONG.I HOPE HE CONTINUES WITH THIS ALL THE WAY

 

[shariqnoor]

Once more, Pakistani fans have hyped a player to the moon. We all know what happens then. The only way is down.

Let him perform consistently first. Two matches and he's the greatest thing now. Unless and until he starts to hit consistently against the likes of Starc, Cummins, Nortje, Russell, his performances right now can only be termed a flash in the pan. It needs to become fire first before I rate him as the best finisher in Pakistan

 

[Bull]

Have never liked him before.
He had terrible stats before the start of this tournament his strike rate was pathetic so was his average.

He seems to be very confident in this tournament.Hopefully he continues to perform and win the tournament.

He has good hitting base and is very powerful and uses crease so well.

 

[MenInG]

Speaking to PCB:

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[nextover666666]

This is the reason, Pak management did not let him face Rashid in the last night. You would notice that Babar was swinging his bat wildly in the last over of Rashid only, because that was intentional, he never plays like that ever. He did not care whether he get out, because at the end he would either get a boundary or get out to bring in Asif Ali. That was a good strategy by the captain.

Exactly he did the smart thing he would have hit a boundary or got out, either or would have worked. And it's better that babar got out because we needed some big shots in the next couple of overs and Asif Ali was capable of that

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

He is a hack. He will fail when the real need comes in semis/ finals.

 

[UsmanhailsAfridi]

Once more, Pakistani fans have hyped a player to the moon. We all know what happens then. The only way is down.

Let him perform consistently first. Two matches and he's the greatest thing now. Unless and until he starts to hit consistently against the likes of Starc, Cummins, Nortje, Russell, his performances right now can only be termed a flash in the pan. It needs to become fire first before I rate him as the best finisher in Pakistan

Umm he has won 2 World Cup matches please go cry a river somewhere else

Hype or no hype he has solidified his place in the t20 team and rightfully so. He will have failures too but you can’t overlook 2 World Cup wins

 

[UsmanhailsAfridi]

He is a hack. He will fail when the real need comes in semis/ finals.

Lol the need was there in those 2 matches we would have missed the semis if it wasn’t for his “hack” hitting

If he fails in semi or finals that would be expected. There are 11 players he can’t do it all every game

 

[TeymurBlake]

Four well timed sixes. The timing was sweet and shots were beautiful on the eye.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Lol the need was there in those 2 matches we would have missed the semis if it wasn’t for his “hack” hitting

If he fails in semi or finals that would be expected. There are 11 players he can’t do it all every game

Against NZ you would have won anyway. Afg game yes, it was courtesy him. But that bowler was atrocious.
Imad and Shadab are better than this hack. I have seen him bat enough times and will not rate him.

 

[pakistani pride]

You can only feel sorry for posters / individuals who still are trying to prove that Asif Ali is a hack / not good enough.

Name me 1 player from SA / NZ / AUS in white ball cricket who has finished back 2 back games in ICC events past few years?

We will see what happens when he faces pace from ENG / AUS but for now he has proven that he is some serious ability.

It needs a lot of self believe to turn down a single and take it upon yourself to finish the game.

24 of 12 any day of the week takes some serious hitting and he did it in 1 over.

 

[ARK Rafay]

You can only feel sorry for posters / individuals who still are trying to prove that Asif Ali is a hack / not good enough.

Name me 1 player from SA / NZ / AUS in white ball cricket who has finished back 2 back games in ICC events past few years?

We will see what happens when he faces pace from ENG / AUS but for now he has proven that he is some serious ability.

It needs a lot of self believe to turn down a single and take it upon yourself to finish the game.

24 of 12 any day of the week takes some serious hitting and he did it in 1 over.

They like to speculate the situation a lot without the said player so they can present a point here. It takes immense courage to take on an attack in pressure games. Let alone doing it convincingly in 2 out of 2 games.

What he did there was amazing and something that wasn't expected of him because of his previous disappointments. Safe to say he does look confident than he ever has in the past 2-3 years. I do have a feeling he'll come good once again in this tournament.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Good to see this kind of confidence from Asif. Especially after all the criticism he has had to face in the last 3 years.

 

[Couch Cricketer]

Asif Ali is a pure hitter problem was earlier he used to come in early with the loss of wickets tried to play normal cricket which is not his game so was not successful. Now Pakistan are playing him as what he is a hitter that will play 7-12 balls and score 20-30 quick runs. As long as we can keep the required run rate 10-12 runs with 2-3 overs to go he will always give us a chance to win plus we have another hitter in Hassan Ali the reason we are still playing him instead of another bowler. It will be interesting to see how Asif does when we bat first and we still play him in the last 3-4 overs or let him come in early.

 

[MenInG]

The Asif Ali method

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[MenInG]

Would it have been a good move to send Asif after Babar's fall?

 

[MenInG]

Not part of the 12-man squad for the 1st T20I vs Bangladesh