"No one knows the art of exploiting the new ball better than me" : Mohammad Asif

[MenInG]

http://zeenews.india.com/cricket/no...s-pakistani-seamer-mohammad-asif_1957492.html

New Delhi: Pakistan's tainted seamer, Mohammad Asif has come out with a bold claim – labeling himself as the best bowler with the new ball in Test cricket.

The 33-year-old claimed that his ability to cause maximum damage with the shiny part of the red ball has been his greatest strength.

“If you waste the new ball than you are asking for trouble. In Test cricket in particular, no matter what the opposition or conditions, you have to make the new ball count. No one knows the art of exploiting the new ball better than me,” Asif was quoted saying in a PTI report.

Asif made his comeback from 5-year long spot-fixing ban, picked up 4 for 29, including three with the new ball at the day and night Quaid-Azam Trophy final at the National stadium.

Asif has also reiterated desire to resume national duty and claims that he is not concerned with his age and fitness as far as continuing on-field career is concerned.

“All this talk about fitness and age I don’t believe in that particularly when you have a 40 plus player in the national Test side and some in the late thirties.”

“People say spinners mature with age and I believe it is the same with pace bowlers, they also become better and more lethal with age and experience,” he said.

“You can’t even play in domestic cricket if you are not fit.”

As present, Pakistan’s Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq is 42 and Younis Khan is close to 38.

(With PTI inputs)

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

^^

Truth without humility.

 

[shaz619]

^^

Truth without humility.

Well said, me, Talent Spotter and [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] have advocated Asif's skill and had faith in him prior to this QEA final; our belief in him has been justified emphatically. Its all down to the selectors now and it doesn't look so good sadly

 

[fawad_wellwisher]

^^

Truth without humility.

It is his borderline sociopathic personality that concerns me .......

 

[Gilly]

Leave it another week and Asif will announce himself to be the best bowler ever to play cricket.

 

[Junaids]

It is his borderline sociopathic personality that concerns me .......

Join the club!

But the thing is, he has a suspended ICC ban until next September.

Which really takes care of that better than anything else could!

 

[shaz619]

Leave it another week and Asif will announce himself to be the best bowler ever to play cricket.

He certainly is 10x better then any of those hacks from Australia who are overly glorified

 

[Junaids]

Leave it another week and Asif will announce himself to be the best bowler ever to play cricket.

Well he actually is a superior version of Hazlewood. And your lot are extremely lucky that the selectors have failed to realise in time just how good he still is.

 

[Gilly]

Well he actually is a superior version of Hazlewood. And your lot are extremely lucky that the selectors have failed to realise in time just how good he still is.

First he was better than the average Pakistan bowlers and today its escalated and he is better than Hazlewood and for that matter he is the best in the world, what next Asif cures cancer. )

 

[Dr_Bassim]

In Pakistan every bowler is greatest on the planet.

Only selectors, system, or some other problem is causing him not to reach his potential.

 

[boomboom6]

Pretty much spot on.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Perhaps the only guy who can swing and seam the new ball in Pakistan.

Haven't seen anyone else do it consistently over the past 6 years opening the bowling.

 

[ali2220]

If the likes of Kohli and others being judge by their performance in England, then let Sir Hazlewood perform in India or UAE first before ppl start actually rating him.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Now I really want him to play, would love to see him getting humiliated.

 

[kingusama92]

It's true.

Sohail Khan isn't even close after watching Asif in the QeA final.

Each delivery was deadly accurate and nibbling like he had it on a string. Very impressive even if he's bragging here.

 

[Suleiman]

Damn, haven't seen this side of Asif before.

He was always shady but didn't say much.

Seeing a new side of him, first criticizing the average pace attack and his possible teammates.

And now giving an Ibrahimovic type account of himself.

New gimmick for him this [MENTION=46929]shaz619[/MENTION], think he will make a comeback with a moustache or something to symbolize his new persona.

What he says is true, but I mean after all that he has been through...

 

[ali2220]

Now I really want him to play, would love to see him getting humiliated.

He won't, he will be competing with the likes of Rahat,Immy,Sohail,Wahab with the new ball.

 

[shaz619]

Damn, haven't seen this side of Asif before.

He was always shady but didn't say much.

Seeing a new side of him, first criticizing the average pace attack and his possible teammates.

And now giving an Ibrahimovic type account of himself.

New gimmick for him this [MENTION=46929]shaz619[/MENTION], think he will make a comeback with a moustache or something to symbolize his new persona.

What he says is true, but I mean after all that he has been through...

In all that time away he's been brushing up his mic skills Asif I think had long accepted that he'd never feature for Pakistan regardless of FC performances so this is his ploy, talk a lot of smack! it has worked for some after all

 

[Moiza]

Asif could be accurate to the micro meter but at the pace he's bowling I dont think he will be putting any dents in the already quite powerful Australian batting line up.

These slow motion deliveries are good enough for Shahzad and co but on Australian pitches against the Australian batsman these wont get you anything. This asif episode is more hot gas than anything. I know we dont have wasim akrams roaming around in our squad but I dont see how asif is any better with the pace he is bowling.

 

[hitthestump]

He's a brave guy seeing as the players and crowds in Australia would verbally tear him a new one.

 

[Suleiman]

See I bet if this was poor old Kami saying I'm the best batsman in this tournament he would've been attacked and received death threats on this thread. He'd be speaking the truth as well. People will bring up Sydney, 2011 NZ game, 2008 market crash, etc etc.

Think they both deserve their chance. We need the jazba and aggression both have to shut up Aussies who are insulting us atm in press conferences.

 

[ali2220]

Asif could be accurate to the micro meter but at the pace he's bowling I dont think he will be putting any dents in the already quite powerful Australian batting line up.

These slow motion deliveries are good enough for Shahzad and co but on Australian pitches against the Australian batsman these wont get you anything. This asif episode is more hot gas than anything. I know we dont have wasim akrams roaming around in our squad but I dont see how asif is any better with the pace he is bowling.

Bowling at 130, and he used to bowl at similar pace before.

 

[Hawkeye]

Best Test bowler in the country, possibly one of the greats of the modern era.

Whatever he's saying is right on target, absolute truth and nothing else. Inzi should have some shame and select rush Asif to the Gabba Test before it's too late.

 

[Hawkeye]

Asif could be accurate to the micro meter but at the pace he's bowling I dont think he will be putting any dents in the already quite powerful Australian batting line up.

These slow motion deliveries are good enough for Shahzad and co but on Australian pitches against the Australian batsman these wont get you anything. This asif episode is more hot gas than anything. I know we dont have wasim akrams roaming around in our squad but I dont see how asif is any better with the pace he is bowling.

Are you for real?

Do you know who McGrath was? Or have you seen Asif bowl at his peak?

There's no difference. Both super wicket takers at very low pace.

 

[IAJ]

Well, I don't like what he is saying, but I can not blame him either as he is only telling the truth.

 

[Abdullah]

i would pick him for the CT in england and thats is it. (maybe considdred fir south africa if he still has it)

 

[Moiza]

Are you for real?

Do you know who McGrath was? Or have you seen Asif bowl at his peak?

There's no difference. Both super wicket takers at very low pace.

Are you for real? Or maybe you saw mcgrath just before retiring? Mcgrath for a good part of his career could easily hit the 140 and more and apart from that he consistently bowled 135 and at times more. I dont know about you but I wouldnt call it super slow since almost all of current fast bowlers hover around the 135 mark and even lower. Secondly Mcgrath was slightly taller than Asif but his action and his expertise made sure sure that he did a very good job at extracting all the available bounce in the wicket.

Second and most importantly as you may have observed that Asif is way past his peak. There is no doubt that Asif was a great bowler in peak, possibly the best we have had after Akram but gone are those day and no he's bowling pace at which the keeper can stand up to the wicket. I find it very hard to believe that Asutralians would be troubled by that. In the match today I think he bowled around the 125-130 mark which I dont think is good enough. Do you expect praveen kumar to roll Australia despite the fact he swings the ball to a great extent?

Thirdly, our Pakistani batsman suck and getting them out is child's play as show by the NZ pub bowler so I wouldn't rate someone who is wreaking havoc in our domestic circle. If you give then ball to amir in a match in karachi with 88% humidity then Im sure he will pick 6 wickets every innings. Its sad how many people fail to realize the difference between our domestic level and the international level.

 

[TalhaSyed]

Well said, me, Talent Spotter and [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] have advocated Asif's skill and had faith in him prior to this QEA final; our belief in him has been justified emphatically. Its all down to the selectors now and it doesn't look so good sadly

I don't think many doubted his talent.

It's his track record, and stuff like this interview, which raises doubt in people's mind.

To be completely and blatantly honest - if the team was being picked on merit alone then he would definitely be in with a shout.

However, as long as he keeps coming out and running his mouth against players who are currently in the team (and whom he is hoping to play along side), and doesn't show any sort of humility or remorse for what he did - IMO there will always be doubts regarding whether or not he should be included in the team.

 

[kingusama92]

Are you for real? Or maybe you saw mcgrath just before retiring? Mcgrath for a good part of his career could easily hit the 140 and more and apart from that he consistently bowled 135 and at times more. I dont know about you but I wouldnt call it super slow since almost all of current fast bowlers hover around the 135 mark and even lower. Secondly Mcgrath was slightly taller than Asif but his action and his expertise made sure sure that he did a very good job at extracting all the available bounce in the wicket.

Second and most importantly as you may have observed that Asif is way past his peak. There is no doubt that Asif was a great bowler in peak, possibly the best we have had after Akram but gone are those day and no he's bowling pace at which the keeper can stand up to the wicket. I find it very hard to believe that Asutralians would be troubled by that. In the match today I think he bowled around the 125-130 mark which I dont think is good enough. Do you expect praveen kumar to roll Australia despite the fact he swings the ball to a great extent?

Thirdly, our Pakistani batsman suck and getting them out is child's play as show by the NZ pub bowler so I wouldn't rate someone who is wreaking havoc in our domestic circle. If you give then ball to amir in a match in karachi with 88% humidity then Im sure he will pick 6 wickets every innings. Its sad how many people fail to realize the difference between our domestic level and the international level.

Recently, Philander had a couple of great performances in AUS and he was bowling 128 KPH.

 

[Buffet]

Leave it another week and Asif will announce himself to be the best bowler ever to play cricket.

He will get plenty of backing for that. Amir was hailed as better than Steyn by many in PP before his return. Longer you stay out, faster the reputation will grow. Butt is also hailed as ATG Pakistani batsman in Aus some posters.

 

[Speedster777]

Spot on! He's the best new ball bowler we have currently. But how long is Inzi going to take to make his decision? Only 5 days left for the first Test. Hurry up and send Asif to Australia.

 

[Moiza]

I don't think many doubted his talent.

It's his track record, and stuff like this interview, which raises doubt in people's mind.

To be completely and blatantly honest - if the team was being picked on merit alone then he would definitely be in with a shout.

However, as long as he keeps coming out and running his mouth against players who are currently in the team (and whom he is hoping to play along side), and doesn't show any sort of humility or remorse for what he did - IMO there will always be doubts regarding whether or not he should be included in the team.

Does he? In the 7 FC innings he has bowled in he has picked 15 wickets at an average of 21.6 compare this with a 22 year old, Hassan Ali who has picked 18 wickets in the 5 innings he has bowled in at an average of 23 then Asif doesnt look like a person setting the domestic scene on fire. The stats mention donot include the match being played today. Either way the point is simple, why destroy the whole mahool of the team by introducing a person who has been constantly degrading the whole time all the while his performances have been as good as an inexperienced 22 year old.

 

[Moiza]

He will get plenty of backing for that. Amir was hailed as better than Steyn by many in PP before his return. Longer you stay out, faster the reputation will grow. Butt is also hailed as ATG Pakistani batsman in Aus some posters.

Perfectly said.

 

[Junaids]

Well said, me, Talent Spotter and [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] have advocated Asif's skill and had faith in him prior to this QEA final; our belief in him has been justified emphatically. Its all down to the selectors now and it doesn't look so good sadly

When I write what Asif is saying I'm a doctor of superior intelligence whose specialist qualifications in psychiatry make it impossible for people to ignore me telling the truth.

When Mohammad Asif says the exact same things he is a despicable self-centered borderline sociopath.

 

[chacha kashmiri]

He will get plenty of backing for that. Amir was hailed as better than Steyn by many in PP before his return. Longer you stay out, faster the reputation will grow. Butt is also hailed as ATG Pakistani batsman in Aus some posters.

Is this before or after steyn became the new bond

I'm sure steyn will come back and get south Africa back to number one one day

 

[chacha kashmiri]

Are you for real? Or maybe you saw mcgrath just before retiring? Mcgrath for a good part of his career could easily hit the 140 and more and apart from that he consistently bowled 135 and at times more. I dont know about you but I wouldnt call it super slow since almost all of current fast bowlers hover around the 135 mark and even lower. Secondly Mcgrath was slightly taller than Asif but his action and his expertise made sure sure that he did a very good job at extracting all the available bounce in the wicket.

Second and most importantly as you may have observed that Asif is way past his peak. There is no doubt that Asif was a great bowler in peak, possibly the best we have had after Akram but gone are those day and no he's bowling pace at which the keeper can stand up to the wicket. I find it very hard to believe that Asutralians would be troubled by that. In the match today I think he bowled around the 125-130 mark which I dont think is good enough. Do you expect praveen kumar to roll Australia despite the fact he swings the ball to a great extent?

Thirdly, our Pakistani batsman suck and getting them out is child's play as show by the NZ pub bowler so I wouldn't rate someone who is wreaking havoc in our domestic circle. If you give then ball to amir in a match in karachi with 88% humidity then Im sure he will pick 6 wickets every innings. Its sad how many people fail to realize the difference between our domestic level and the international level.

Fair enough


If we actually give him the ball he can prove us wrong either way

 

[Junaids]

Does he? In the 7 FC innings he has bowled in he has picked 15 wickets at an average of 21.6 compare this with a 22 year old, Hassan Ali who has picked 18 wickets in the 5 innings he has bowled in at an average of 23 then Asif doesnt look like a person setting the domestic scene on fire. The stats mention donot include the match being played today. Either way the point is simple, why destroy the whole mahool of the team by introducing a person who has been constantly degrading the whole time all the while his performances have been as good as an inexperienced 22 year old.

Your figures are completely wrong.

I'd have Hasan Ali in the squad with him anyway - who better for him to learn from?

These are their 2016-17 QEA averages:

Hasan Ali:
4 matches: 18 wickets @ 23.44, strike rate 36.8, economy rate 3.81

Mohammad Asif:
4.5 matches: 19 wickets @ 18.63, strike rate 48.3, economy rate 2.31

I don't know what the word "Mahool" means, but a losing team doesn't get to select itself.

Pakistan has lost 3 Tests in a row and 7 of the last 9 outside Asia. If the players don't want to play with someone, they can leave.

 

[Moiza]

Fair enough


If we actually give him the ball he can prove us wrong either way

Maybe we will one day if he really stands out in the domestic scene, which sadly he is not doing atm. Either way there is no case for Asif to be flown over to Australia as some posters suggest.

 

[Moiza]

Your figures are completely wrong.

I'd have Hasan Ali in the squad with him anyway - who better for him to learn from?

These are their 2016-17 QEA averages:

Hasan Ali:
4 matches: 18 wickets @ 23.44, strike rate 36.8, economy rate 3.81

Mohammad Asif:
4.5 matches: 19 wickets @ 18.63, strike rate 48.3, economy rate 2.31

I don't know what the word "Mahool" means, but a losing team doesn't get to select itself.

Pakistan has lost 3 Tests in a row and 7 of the last 9 outside Asia. If the players don't want to play with someone, they can leave.

Kindly also mention the number on innings each has taken to get the wickets and recheck the average on Hasan since when I calculated it was 23.1.

Asif was with the squad last time we went on the Australian tour and we got super white washed back then. Any theories on how he may change this this time around?

The cause of concern that time was batting and the fielding and the cause of concern this time is also the same. You can hype Asif all you want but the once great bowler is now gone. Heck an absolutely inexperienced (compared to asif) 22 year old gives him a run for his money.

 

[chacha kashmiri]

Maybe we will one day if he really stands out in the domestic scene, which sadly he is not doing atm. Either way there is no case for Asif to be flown over to Australia as some posters suggest.

It depends on whether you think imran or sohail Khan are better bowlers than asif
I think the form argument is a bad argument to rest your case considering how quickly Amir got into the team and also why we've never seen Sadaf or fawad in Pakistani whites

I can understand the decision 'professionally'
But I still believe he should be a 'consultant' on tour if nothing else

Instead of bringing him at the end of a tour on some news channel to gloat about how he could have won the series
Maybe ask him to do that before the series

 

[Junaids]

Maybe we will one day if he really stands out in the domestic scene, which sadly he is not doing atm. Either way there is no case for Asif to be flown over to Australia as some posters suggest.

Why do you write these inventions?

It is bad enough that you produce false statistics to back up your claims.

But a QEA season average of 18.63 is FIVE better than his career QEA average.

And he has performed startlingly well when it matters most, in the final two matches to get his team into the Final and then to knock over a strong top order with a magnificent spell, followed by three more tight spells when the wicket was unhelpful

Quaid-e-Azam 2016-17 Final comparative figures:
Mohammad Asif 18.4-4-29-4 at an average of 7.25
Everyone else 153.3-29-451-9

Mohammad Asif 4 wickets for 29 at an average of 7.25
Everyone else 9 wickets for 451 at an average of 50.11

Can you not tell that Asif is averaging 7.25 on this track while everyone else is averaging 50.11?

 

[Junaids]

Kindly also mention the number on innings each has taken to get the wickets and recheck the average on Hasan since when I calculated it was 23.1.

Asif was with the squad last time we went on the Australian tour and we got super white washed back then. Any theories on how he may change this this time around?

The cause of concern that time was batting and the fielding and the cause of concern this time is also the same. You can hype Asif all you want but the once great bowler is now gone. Heck an absolutely inexperienced (compared to asif) 22 year old gives him a run for his money.

Asif took 6-41 at Sydney last time.

And look what has changed:
Ponting, Clarke and Hussey have gone, replaced by Smith, Khawaja and Warner.
But the other three batsmen are now Renshaw, Handscomb and Maddinson, two of whom have bizarre techniques that Asif would destroy in minutes.

 

[Pak_Pace]

Your figures are completely wrong.

I'd have Hasan Ali in the squad with him anyway - who better for him to learn from?

These are their 2016-17 QEA averages:

Hasan Ali:
4 matches: 18 wickets @ 23.44, strike rate 36.8, economy rate 3.81

Mohammad Asif:
4.5 matches: 19 wickets @ 18.63, strike rate 48.3, economy rate 2.31

I don't know what the word "Mahool" means, but a losing team doesn't get to select itself.

Pakistan has lost 3 Tests in a row and 7 of the last 9 outside Asia. If the players don't want to play with someone, they can leave.

I don't know the composition of each's wickets, but judging by the strike rates and wickets tally, Hasan Ali's stats are much better.

And the other poster meant team environment there.

 

[Moiza]

Why do you write these inventions?

It is bad enough that you produce false statistics to back up your claims.

But a QEA season average of 18.63 is FIVE better than his career QEA average.

And he has performed startlingly well when it matters most, in the final two matches to get his team into the Final and then to knock over a strong top order with a magnificent spell, followed by three more tight spells when the wicket was unhelpful

Quaid-e-Azam 2016-17 Final comparative figures:
Mohammad Asif 18.4-4-29-4 at an average of 7.25
Everyone else 153.3-29-451-9

Mohammad Asif 4 wickets for 29 at an average of 7.25
Everyone else 9 wickets for 451 at an average of 50.11

Can you not tell that Asif is averaging 7.25 on this track while everyone else is averaging 50.11?

Im sure Asif is the savior you make him out to be and the whole management has been plotting to keep this deadly weapon out of the team.

Do mention the names of the great bowlers bowling alongside him in the final among whom Asif stand out like Akram.

Muhammad irfan has also taken 3 for 34 avg 11.33. Lets induct him into the side too.

 

[Junaids]

I don't know the composition of each's wickets, but judging by the strike rates and wickets tally, Hasan Ali's stats are much better.

And the other poster meant team environment there.

Firstly, this is not ODI's. You have as long as you want to work over and dismiss a batsman in Tests, so long as the runs don't accumulate.

Secondly, the team environment NEEDS to be shaken up at the moment. There is a defensive mindset which predates Mickey Arthur and is going to be a disaster in a Pink Ball Test where the whole point is you get two sessions to score your runs because you have to bowl under lights.

And the best way to improve a team atmosphere is by winning. Picking your best bowler is usually a good place to start, don't you think?

 

[Moiza]

Asif took 6-41 at Sydney last time.

And look what has changed:
Ponting, Clarke and Hussey have gone, replaced by Smith, Khawaja and Warner.
But the other three batsmen are now Renshaw, Handscomb and Maddinson, two of whom have bizarre techniques that Asif would destroy in minutes.

Smith, khawaja and warner are as dangerous as ponting, hussey and clarke given their current form.

If the rest have as bizarre techniques as you suggest than Amir and wabby will get them out quite easily.

 

[Junaids]

Im sure Asif is the savior you make him out to be and the whole management has been plotting to keep this deadly weapon out of the team.

Do mention the names of the great bowlers bowling alongside him in the final among whom Asif stand out like Akram.

Muhammad irfan has also taken 3 for 34 avg 11.33. Lets induct him into the side too.

Firstly it's not the management, it's the PCB.

Mickey Arthur's South Africa was on the receiving end of Mohammad Asif in South Africa ten years ago. You can bet your bottom dollar he'd like him in the team.

As for Mohammad Irfan, if he was fit enough I'm sure that they would want him in Australian conditions too.

You are going to extraordinary lengths to try to hide the fact that at Cairns in the Pink Test rehearsal Arthur and Misbah had to pick three left-arm quicks because the right-arm ones selected aren't even good enough to use against a bunch of kids.

 

[Junaids]

Smith, khawaja and warner are as dangerous as ponting, hussey and clarke given their current form.

If the rest have as bizarre techniques as you suggest than Amir and wabby will get them out quite easily.

No, they won't.

The ICC has clamped down on bowlers running onto the pitch and uses real-time video to police it.

This means that Amir has to bowl from wider on the stumps and struggles to get any LBW wickets in televised matches now as a result.

While Wahab bowls far too short and gets no conventional swing or seam movement.

The whole point is that Pakistan needs right-arm quicks because Australia has 7 left-handed batsmen now and video monitoring of the danger area on the pitch is enforced. And Sohail Khan is virtually the same age as Asif and is still hugely inferior, while Imran Khan is even worse.

 

[Moiza]

Firstly, this is not ODI's. You have as long as you want to work over and dismiss a batsman in Tests, so long as the runs don't accumulate.

Secondly, the team environment NEEDS to be shaken up at the moment. There is a defensive mindset which predates Mickey Arthur and is going to be a disaster in a Pink Ball Test where the whole point is you get two sessions to score your runs because you have to bowl under lights.

And the best way to improve a team atmosphere is by winning. Picking your best bowler is usually a good place to start, don't you think?

The same bowler who has been recently hyping himself as the combined reseurection of akram, waqar, donald and mcgrath combined all the while having similar stats of to that of an inexperienced 22 year old?

 

[TalhaSyed]

Does he? In the 7 FC innings he has bowled in he has picked 15 wickets at an average of 21.6 compare this with a 22 year old, Hassan Ali who has picked 18 wickets in the 5 innings he has bowled in at an average of 23 then Asif doesnt look like a person setting the domestic scene on fire. The stats mention donot include the match being played today. Either way the point is simple, why destroy the whole mahool of the team by introducing a person who has been constantly degrading the whole time all the while his performances have been as good as an inexperienced 22 year old.

Sure...Hassan Ali can be in with a shout too. Happy?

This sounds cliche but the team isn't picked based on stats (thankfully). Asif does has immense talent and has the ability to move the ball both ways. With the right training he can be a world beater & we saw that when he brought a brilliant Indian batting line up to their knees (literally!).

However the guys his own worst enemy.

Either way - even looking at those stats - for 4/5 day cricket Asif would (theoretically speaking) get an entire team out for 216 runs, whilst Hassan Ali would get an entire team out for 230 runs. Just saying

Anyway - I agree with your point that bringing Asif into the team will cause a lot of disruption IMO and specially after such shameless statements as these. When Amir came tontge side we heard about him being humble and apologising to the team and offering to leave the training camp if the players had an issue with him being there which showed remorse.

Asif would stroll in there thinking that he's the greatest thing since sliced bread and would certainly rub a lot of people the wrong way with his arrogant, immature & self centred attitude.

 

[Junaids]

The same bowler who has been recently hyping himself as the combined reseurection of akram, waqar, donald and mcgrath combined all the while having similar stats of to that of an inexperienced 22 year old?

And I'm talking about a guy with over 100 Test wickets at an average of 24.36.

A guy who we have seen in the last 48 hours is the same speed as ever, has the same skills as ever, and can bowl 18 overs in a day.

The guy who AB De Villiers and Kevin Pietersen say is an all-time great fast-medium bowler.

Yet your vendetta against him is such that you propose to pick instead a right-arm quick with a Test bowling average of 41.41 (Sohail Khan) or an extra left-armer averaging 33.61 (Wahab Riaz), both of whom are well over thirty years of age.

 

[ads101]

We shouldn't have brought Amir back to international cricket. But now we have we might as well bring Asif honestly.

Our pacers are downright disappointing atm, except Amir who's decent (though not amazing). Riaz I think is nothing more than 3rd pacer, he can't function higher than that and can't really share the new ball.

It makes sense logically to take a punt on Asif if he's performing in domestic, especially since we're lacking in bowlers who can exploit the new ball. He could even be an asset in ODIs tbh given the rule change with two new balls, he'd probably be more effective in that system than the other one, though try tests for now.

We already had a chance to show the world we were anti fixing by banning all the trio for life. We missed that. Seems silly to differentiate based on age, I'm sure all three did it on purpose and all three lied initially about it. And all three were adults at the time. Being captain might set you apart IMO as you had more of a responsibility perhaps. But the fact Butt was a terrible test batsman when he played before with his 30 average and the fact we have two solid openers in Azhar and Sami makes it easier to keep him out.

 

[shaz619]

I don't think many doubted his talent.

It's his track record, and stuff like this interview, which raises doubt in people's mind.

To be completely and blatantly honest - if the team was being picked on merit alone then he would definitely be in with a shout.

However, as long as he keeps coming out and running his mouth against players who are currently in the team (and whom he is hoping to play along side), and doesn't show any sort of humility or remorse for what he did - IMO there will always be doubts regarding whether or not he should be included in the team.

He has displayed remorse, his guilt was also the least out of amir and butt. And while it is arguable he shouldn't be making the comments he has, I personally don't find anything offensive about them; it's just the truth. I understand people will take is as a great sign of disrespect but I really don't and nor do I think Asif intended disrespect. Asif is a confident man with an incredible god given gift with the ball; what he says makes him. I actually would see a huge improvement in either Rahat, Amir, Imran, Sohail or Wahab if Asif was around. Obviously this is just my opinion and I could be wrong but listen to [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] who is Psychiatric Doctor and has a better insight into what Asif says then me.

 

[Junaids]

His comments sound to me awfully like what Glenn McGrath said before every series.

It wasn't "Brett Lee or Jason Gillespie is going to get so and so out". It was "I'm going to get him out".

 

[Junaids]

He has displayed remorse, his guilt was also the least out of amir and butt. And while it is arguable he shouldn't be making the comments he has, I personally don't find anything offensive about them; it's just the truth. I understand people will take is as a great sign of disrespect but I really don't and nor do I think Asif intended disrespect. Asif is a confident man with an incredible god given gift with the ball; what he says makes him. I actually would see a huge improvement in either Rahat, Amir, Imran, Sohail or Wahab if Asif was around. Obviously this is just my opinion and I could be wrong but listen to [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] who is Psychiatric Doctor and has a better insight into what Asif says then me.

With my specialist psychiatrist hat on:

Asif is just a typical sportsman.

Semi-educated, but someone who has scaled the highest peaks and so he has enormous self-confidence and doesn't have the education to understand not just what to say but also what not to say.

After all, most of us think that every word he said was the actual truth. But undiplomatic.

It is SO common. Cristiano Ronaldo is an obvious example, but so too was Viv Richards and Sunil Gavaskar - remember when he made Chetan Chauhan leave the pitch with him when he disliked an LBW decision?

It's why in the west we tend to control who gets let anywhere near a microphone.

Salman Butt is much more educated and has a higher IQ and his team-mates think he is wonderful because, like Mike Brearley, he knows how to make them feel good.

Big deal. It just means that Asif isn't very good at hiding stuff. Which if you think about it, is probably a good thing!

 

[shaz619]

Sure...Hassan Ali can be in with a shout too. Happy?

This sounds cliche but the team isn't picked based on stats (thankfully). Asif does has immense talent and has the ability to move the ball both ways. With the right training he can be a world beater & we saw that when he brought a brilliant Indian batting line up to their knees (literally!).

However the guys his own worst enemy.

Either way - even looking at those stats - for 4/5 day cricket Asif would (theoretically speaking) get an entire team out for 216 runs, whilst Hassan Ali would get an entire team out for 230 runs. Just saying

Anyway - I agree with your point that bringing Asif into the team will cause a lot of disruption IMO and specially after such shameless statements as these. When Amir came tontge side we heard about him being humble and apologising to the team and offering to leave the training camp if the players had an issue with him being there which showed remorse.

Asif would stroll in there thinking that he's the greatest thing since sliced bread and would certainly rub a lot of people the wrong way with his arrogant, immature & self centred attitude.

It never got to a stage where Asif was in a position where he could apologise to anyone as his return was not fastracked but he has displayed remorse mind you his guilt was also the least but given an awful lawyer he's been made out to be on the level of butt and amir which is not the case. I think what's shameless is going to Australia with bowlers like Rahat Ali, Imran Khan and Sohail Khan who will partner Amir.

Nothing insulting or shameless about Asif's comments, they were just facts. Our pace attack is pretty average and that was pretty much what he said.

 

[Snow]

HE should be selected, why on earth would you select one player who was convicted but not other one.

 

[Junaids]

Has anyone stopped to think why Mohammad Asif is giving these interviews?

He was clearly told that if he performed, he was back in the team.

He has performed and the PCB has not kept its side of the bargain.

So he is trying to lobby to get back in in the 24 or so months that he has left.

Has anybody worked out what happens next if this fails?

If he remains excluded he will join the queue of people appealing his criminal conviction because of the proven evidence-tampering of the Fake Sheikh. And like everyone else, he will get off, because the video evidence which convicted him is probably doctored like the Fake Sheikh's other videos.

Then he will have his ICC conviction overturned for the same reason.

And then not only will there be no reason to refuse to select him, it will be a formality for him to sue the ICC for 5 years of non-selection and lost income from September 2010 to September 2015, but also the PCB for the period September 2015 to whenever they pick him.

If he sees that the door is shut he will obviously do that. And it will basically bankrupt the PCB because his lost income calculations will go by past earnings - and he used to play IPL.

So the PCB needs to think awfully carefully about extending this de facto ban.

 

[Moiza]

Has anyone stopped to think why Mohammad Asif is giving these interviews?

He was clearly told that if he performed, he was back in the team.

He has performed and the PCB has not kept its side of the bargain.

So he is trying to lobby to get back in in the 24 or so months that he has left.

Has anybody worked out what happens next if this fails?

If he remains excluded he will join the queue of people appealing his criminal conviction because of the proven evidence-tampering of the Fake Sheikh. And like everyone else, he will get off, because the video evidence which convicted him is probably doctored like the Fake Sheikh's other videos.

Then he will have his ICC conviction overturned for the same reason.

And then not only will there be no reason to refuse to select him, it will be a formality for him to sue the ICC for 5 years of non-selection and lost income from September 2010 to September 2015, but also the PCB for the period September 2015 to whenever they pick him.

If he sees that the door is shut he will obviously do that. And it will basically bankrupt the PCB because his lost income calculations will go by past earnings - and he used to play IPL.

So the PCB needs to think awfully carefully about extending this de facto ban.

Again you're talking like he has set the domestic scene on fire since his comeback.

 

[Ellipsism]

If the likes of Kohli and others being judge by their performance in England, then let Sir Hazlewood perform in India or UAE first before ppl start actually rating him.

It's not like Australia is a haven for bowling.

 

[Hawkeye]

Again you're talking like he has set the domestic scene on fire since his comeback.

Yes he has. And bowled better than anyone else in the last decade.

Stop living on blind MS Excel spreadsheets and watch some cricket.

Truly the McGrath of the modern era - M Asif.

 

[ali2220]

It's not like Australia is a haven for bowling.

It is when you compare it with UAE

 

[moghul]

Asif doesn't have too many years left in his career. If Pak can use him, time is now. Player of his class not necessarily has to take lots of wickets at domestic level, all he has to show his fitness and rhythm. Level of concentration and motivation is different at international level and many players perform better at international stage than domestics. Most of the great Pakistan bowler in the past like Wasim, Imran, Waqar and Shoaib did not have amazing stats in domestic cricket.

 

[Junaids]

Again you're talking like he has set the domestic scene on fire since his comeback.

Are you just trolling me (it's working really well if you are ) or do you really mean this?

You would agree that the Final of a tournament is the pinnacle of it? Between the best teams?

Mohammad Asif has 4 wickets in 18 overs at an average of 7.25.

Everyone else combined has 9 wickets 154 overs at an average of 50.11.

Why can't you just say that you hate him for what he did and do you will use any pretext to exclude him?

But seriously, enough of the denialism.

 

[Junaids]

Again you're talking like he has set the domestic scene on fire since his comeback.

What's more, he knocked over the best left-handed top order batsmen in the country. The only one of the Top Four he didn't dismiss was the right-handed!

At a time when Australia have seven left-handed batsmen.

 

[Vivek_86]

In Pakistan every bowler is greatest on the planet.

Only selectors, system, or some other problem is causing him not to reach his potential.

In the league of intangible things ( read Talent ) Pakistan are always the greatest. They could thrash everybody if they want, but that will drain the fun out of the game. Therefore they just take things easily. But REMEMBER the TALENT .

 

[Dr_Bassim]

As a famous Mr Psychiatrist would tend to agree with me.

"The longer you keep feeding people delusions, the stronger they get. There becomes a point those delusions become mass hysteria, feeding the need for satiating one's desires. It is essential that those delusions are stopped at their source, because mass hysteria is often the cause of deep disappointment. Droves of people believing in something that is simply not true, but following the principle of folie a deux. We see that typically in new found religion and there is need to believe in something greater than it is, because of continual frustration and lack of hope. Religion, however can be a motivator, so there is some respite. But what happens when the similar droves of people start backing nobodies at the level of government, at the level of leadership, at the level of national security? Utter destruction.

I repeat the only solution to such is to stop such delusions at the source.

Let me try.

Asif is a good bowler WHO IS UNFIT/FIT (unknown) who played most of his matches in extremely green wickets of Pakistan and last played international cricket 6 years ago. If that bowler is equivalent to McGrath , better than Hazelwood, and combined better than Wasim , Waqar and Donald, then you people get to decide reading above. Is he?

Are you all falling for the same trap as the guy who paraded his trumpet?

Make up your own mind instead of following a parrot.

Thanks and Amen.

 

[yasir]

Again you're talking like he has set the domestic scene on fire since his comeback.

When the chips were down or stakes were high, he literally sets things on fire. First in Semi-Final, when they needed 56 runs to qualify, he comes in take three wickets in three overs for three runs to put his team on the final... Then in final, he took three wickets in first two over to put opposition to 14/3, on a fairly flat wicket... His spell was not just about wickets, look at his economy...

Aslo, comparing Asif with a newbie Hasan is rubbish, one has not only taken 100+ wickets in test, but setup and got out every top batsman he played against (Tendulkar, David, VVX, Sewhag, Clark, Ponting, Hussey, Kallis, AB, Amla, Cook, KP, MJ, Sanga)...Asif's ability and bowling skills are not on the sense for the first time, he has delivered many times, actually in 5 different countries (SL, SA,AUS,ENG, PAK)...This is not Asif's first FC season... Only question is fitness, well if PCB can select 33 years old Sohail (who cannot bowl second spell), Asif is far better bowler than him...

 

[Abidi110]

But,but, but, Asif shouldn't be credited coz he has been bowling on extremely green wkts in Pak, looks like the mother nature is trying to help Asif too, and wkts are turning extremely green in Pak.
Poor Rahat and Imran, they had to bowl on roads in NZ!

 

[yasir]

This is shorter version of the clip https://youtu.be/464XdhziR58

I did not see anything wrong with his language and tone... He is saying, there is space for new ball bowler in test team, what is wrong with that?? - He is also saying mentality and attitude has changed about aged players, again nothing wrong with that... Are people and press making hyperbola of his statements??

 

[Abidi110]

Nothing wrong with what he said in the clip, he's right in saying that using the new bowl is an art, and probably the reason he mentioned that is coz he knows how our current pacers have been wasting the new bowl.

 

[Speedster777]

This is shorter version of the clip https://youtu.be/464XdhziR58

I did not see anything wrong with his language and tone... He is saying, there is space for new ball bowler in test team, what is wrong with that?? - He is also saying mentality and attitude has changed about aged players, again nothing wrong with that... Are people and press making hyperbola of his statements??

Thanks for posting this clip. Here, he never claimed he was the best new ball bowler. Misreporting as usual.

 

[Speedster777]

Only question is fitness, well if PCB can select 33 years old Sohail (who cannot bowl second spell), Asif is far better bowler than him...

In fact, all three bowlers, Sohail, Amir and Wahab were struggling with fitness in the 2nd innings of 2nd Test. There's an article on cricinfo posted today on Asif's performance and fitness in QAE, can't post the link here, but it's worth a read.

 

[Junaids]

As a famous Mr Psychiatrist would tend to agree with me.

"The longer you keep feeding people delusions, the stronger they get. There becomes a point those delusions become mass hysteria, feeding the need for satiating one's desires. It is essential that those delusions are stopped at their source, because mass hysteria is often the cause of deep disappointment. Droves of people believing in something that is simply not true, but following the principle of folie a deux. We see that typically in new found religion and there is need to believe in something greater than it is, because of continual frustration and lack of hope. Religion, however can be a motivator, so there is some respite. But what happens when the similar droves of people start backing nobodies at the level of government, at the level of leadership, at the level of national security? Utter destruction.

I repeat the only solution to such is to stop such delusions at the source.

Let me try.

Asif is a good bowler WHO IS UNFIT/FIT (unknown) who played most of his matches in extremely green wickets of Pakistan and last played international cricket 6 years ago. If that bowler is equivalent to McGrath , better than Hazelwood, and combined better than Wasim , Waqar and Donald, then you people get to decide reading above. Is he?

Are you all falling for the same trap as the guy who paraded his trumpet?

Make up your own mind instead of following a parrot.

Thanks and Amen.

Firstly, the comments about delusions and religion don't fit with modern psychiatric practice. I'd stick well away from using that as an approach to the Asif issue and simply remind you that his Test record is an unarguable fact, not a collective delusion.

Secondly, the quality of Mohammad Asif as a Test bowler is not open for discussion, and it is outrageous that the Hazlewood furphy is used to distract from this. Over 100 Test wickets at an average of 24 have answered that question.

Thirdly, he cannot be repunished for previous transgressions. All prior offences were taken into account in arriving at a five year punishment - and he has served 6 years of that 5 year ban. And Shaharyar Khan has stated that he will be selected again if he performs.

As such the only questions which are valid in the case of Mohammad Asif are:

Question 1. Is he performing in Domestic First Class cricket?
Answer: Yes. He has outbowled everybody else at the pinnacle of the tournament and has a better average this year than he did when he was selected for Pakistan previously.

Question 2. Is he bowling at the same speed as previously?
Answer: Yes.

Question 3. Has he proved his current fitness by bowling enough overs per day?
Answer: Yes. He bowled over 18 overs on the First Day of the QEA Final.

Those are the only questions. There are no other valid questions.

 

[Jan Sher]

It's better to invest in the likes of Sameen Gul, Irfanullah Shah, Sadaf Hussain, Usman Khan, Mohammad Abbas and Hasan Ali.

But, still, he has a chance, if Amir and Rahat fails on this Australian tour.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Firstly, the comments about delusions and religion don't fit with modern psychiatric practice. I'd stick well away from using that as an approach to the Asif issue and simply remind you that his Test record is an unarguable fact, not a collective delusion.

Secondly, the quality of Mohammad Asif as a Test bowler is not open for discussion, and it is outrageous that the Hazlewood furphy is used to distract from this. Over 100 Test wickets at an average of 24 have answered that question.

Thirdly, he cannot be repunished for previous transgressions. All prior offences were taken into account in arriving at a five year punishment - and he has served 6 years of that 5 year ban. And Shaharyar Khan has stated that he will be selected again if he performs.

As such the only questions which are valid in the case of Mohammad Asif are:

Question 1. Is he performing in Domestic First Class cricket?
Answer: Yes. He has outbowled everybody else at the pinnacle of the tournament and has a better average this year than he did when he was selected for Pakistan previously.

Question 2. Is he bowling at the same speed as previously?
Answer: Yes.

Question 3. Has he proved his current fitness by bowling enough overs per day?
Answer: Yes. He bowled over 18 overs on the First Day of the QEA Final.

Those are the only questions. There are no other valid questions.

It is also a fact this his Test record was 6 years ago.

It escapes your mind, because you want to believe he is good.

There is no rule that any bowler who was once good 6 years ago, will be equally good 6 years after a sojourn into wilderness.

However, mass hysteria that you created seems to make it so.

I only hope you have enough ammunition to feed these delusions if Asif gets selected and does not perform somewhere down the line.

But seeing your creative skills, I am sure you could blame Asif's lack of success (provided it happens further down the line) on wrong format, wrong use of his skills, wrong use of pitch, Misbah's inability or Younis Khan's problem etc etc.

 

[Syed1]

Again you're talking like he has set the domestic scene on fire since his comeback.

Lol he won the semi for his side and now well on his way to winning the final.


Like somebody said, get out of that Excel spreadsheet and watch an actual match for a change.

 

[Junaids]

It is also a fact this his Test record was 6 years ago.

It escapes your mind, because you want to believe he is good.

There is no rule that any bowler who was once good 6 years ago, will be equally good 6 years after a sojourn into wilderness.

However, mass hysteria that you created seems to make it so.

I only hope you have enough ammunition to feed these delusions if Asif gets selected and does not perform somewhere down the line.

But seeing your creative skills, I am sure you could blame Asif's lack of success (provided it happens further down the line) on wrong format, wrong use of his skills, wrong use of pitch, Misbah's inability or Younis Khan's problem etc etc.

Until Saturday that was a valid argument.

None of us had seen him with our own eyes in anything other than short clips.

But now we have seen every ball of every spell in the Domestic Final against the best batsmen the country has to offer.

And he was exactly the same bowler that he used to be.

Of course, if you are arguing that it was "only" domestic batsmen, then the only way to find out otherwise is to play him in a Test match.

You choose.

 

[Syed1]

As a famous Mr Psychiatrist would tend to agree with me.

"The longer you keep feeding people delusions, the stronger they get. There becomes a point those delusions become mass hysteria, feeding the need for satiating one's desires. It is essential that those delusions are stopped at their source, because mass hysteria is often the cause of deep disappointment. Droves of people believing in something that is simply not true, but following the principle of folie a deux. We see that typically in new found religion and there is need to believe in something greater than it is, because of continual frustration and lack of hope. Religion, however can be a motivator, so there is some respite. But what happens when the similar droves of people start backing nobodies at the level of government, at the level of leadership, at the level of national security? Utter destruction.

I repeat the only solution to such is to stop such delusions at the source.

Let me try.

Asif is a good bowler WHO IS UNFIT/FIT (unknown) who played most of his matches in extremely green wickets of Pakistan and last played international cricket 6 years ago. If that bowler is equivalent to McGrath , better than Hazelwood, and combined better than Wasim , Waqar and Donald, then you people get to decide reading above. Is he?

Are you all falling for the same trap as the guy who paraded his trumpet?

Make up your own mind instead of following a parrot.

Thanks and Amen.

Asif doesn't have to be better than Wasim, Waqar, McGrath, Donald etc.

He just has to be better than Rahat, Imran, Wahab, Sohail and Amir. Which he is.

 

[Gilly]

I'm not Pakistani.

And as a resident of Australia, I can tell you that Mohammad Asif's rap sheet is basically identical to Shane Warne's.

Performance-enhancing drugs? Yes.

Contact with fixers? Yes - except Asif wasn't paid and Warne was.

High profile sex scandals? Well, Asif is a choirboy compared with Warne on this one.

The only difference was that eventually the PCB stopped protecting Asif, but the Australian Cricket Board continued to rush Warne back the moment they could - including after 1 year for his drugs ban.

There are a few differences between Warne and Asif, Warne has never been to jail for criminal offences or been banned by the ICC. Warne has never tested positive to performance enhancing drugs or even been caught smuggling drugs into another country. Warne has never been linked to match fixers like Asif has so all in all your feeble attempt to make Asif look similar to Warne is just as desperate as your attempt to portray Asif as the greatest bowler to walk the earth.