[VIDEOS/PICTURES] Asif Afridi banned for two years for anti-corruption offences

[Titan24]

During the discussion in one of the threads I mentioned how Asif Afridi is possibly one of the best domestic white ball spinner currently if not the best. However, as he is 34 years old and has no media backing it’s unlikely he is ever going to be considered.

Based upon his effort in the final of KPL where he defended 10 runs in the last over, I think he deserved his own thread. He ended KPL as well as the best spinner on display with 2nd highest wicket tally (12), average of 15 and economy of 7.

Asif Afridi who is 34 years old (SLA) had an outstanding last white ball season where he was clearly one of the best on display. Was leading wicket taker with 25 wickets at an average of 22 and economy of 5.02 in a high scoring Pakistan Cup along with economy of 7.88 in 9 matches (Best amongst all spinners except Imad who played 6 matches) in National T20 2020 playing a crucial role for KPK. A decent lower order batsman as well with 50s across the formats (A 100 in FC cricket as well). No point in talking about the guy as not only he doesnt have the youthfulness but, guy doesnt have any media backing and fans would have also had an emotional outburst if the guy would have ben selected. So kind of unselectable.

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/showthread.php?302038-quot-8-9-players-are-set-in-their-positions-for-the-T20-World-Cup-quot-Misbah-ul-Haq&p=11250380#post11250380

 

[b.lesner]

Hopefully plays PSL this year

 

[Titan24]

Hopefully plays PSL this year

Was part of the MS squad for the 2nd leg in UAE of PSL 6 but, unfortunately didnt get a game. He would be hoping to get selected in the draft of PSL 7 and to get opportunities as well.

 

[MenInG]

 

[shamaan]

He can also drive the ball big azwel

 

[Maher96]

Youngster beauty.

Needs to be picked for UAE. He puts Imad to shame tbh.

 

[Bewal Express]

Bowls quote slowly, reminds me of the Leicestershire spinner that became a Sports psychologist

 

[mazkhan]

Looks about 50

 

[PakLFC]

He must be unfortunate just like the great Riaz Afridi was! Anyone here remember Riaz?

 

[muqarrab]

Snape?

 

[muqarrab]

Bowls quote slowly, reminds me of the Leicestershire spinner that became a Sports psychologist

Snape?

 

[Bewal Express]

Snape?

That's the guy

 

[shamaan]

He's decent but should not be considered for Pakistan team.

 

[silentkiller187]

He must be unfortunate just like the great Riaz Afridi was! Anyone here remember Riaz?

Riaz had a brilliant fc career but during a time of waqar , wasim and shoaib akhtar etc he wasnt as lucky as his brother shaheen who doesnt really have much competition

 

[PakLFC]

Riaz had a brilliant fc career but during a time of waqar , wasim and shoaib akhtar etc he wasnt as lucky as his brother shaheen who doesnt really have much competition

Riaz is Shaheen's bro?. That's news to me.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

The only player that stood out for me who had some hints of international T20 quality talent was Zeeshan Ashraf.
He had some good bat speed, could swing the bat hard and made good impacts.

 

[Titan24]

1/22 in 4 overs
1/21 in 4 overs

In national T20 cup 2021 so far.

 

[unemployedgm]

No way he is 34

 

[Bewal Express]

Bowls no rubbish, turns the ball a little and says hit me if you can.

 

[MenInG]

16 off 4 overs for KP v Balochistan - is he the answer to the power-hitter dilemma for Pakistan?

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[Rana]

Alright. He needs to be taken seriously

Solid cricketer

 

[Rana]

Don’t know what his fielding is like but looks more impactful than Imad Wasim to say the least

 

[Titan24]

Don’t know what his fielding is like but looks more impactful than Imad Wasim to say the least

Not a great fielder and doubt he can improve much at this age. However, considering the modern day requirements of whiteball cricket he offers something with the bat as well along with his bowling covering atleast two facets of the game. Have been pretty useful overall for KPK as well as his KPL side.

 

[MenInG]

Alright. He needs to be taken seriously

Solid cricketer

Follows it up with 3/8 in 4 overs!



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[Rana]

Follows it up with 3/8 in 4 overs!

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It looked too easy for him

 

[Titan24]

It looked too easy for him

Yes his comfort level at the top domestic level against almost everyone has been pretty impressive. He is assured of himself and his skills.

 

[Titan24]

So far in National T20 Cup 2021, 8 wickets in 5 matches with an average of 11 and economy of 5.22

 

[Saj]

Great performances so far in the National T20 Cup 2021.

Seems that the 'mature' spinners are the ones who are performing consistently in Pakistan cricket.

 

[Bewal Express]

He is a better bet than Shadab at the moment for the T20 team

 

[moghul]

Too late now for him , you cannot pick someone from domestic cricket suddenly and take him to world cup. we have better spinners with more international experience .

 

[moghul]

Iftikhar is 30 and he is 34 >

 

[Golden arm]

Iftikhar is 30 and he is 34 >

To be honest he looks 4 years younger than iftikhar
If we account for 4 years average age fudging
He is actually 38
Ifti chacha is 42

 

[iRfaN_LA]

Too late now for him , you cannot pick someone from domestic cricket suddenly and take him to world cup. we have better spinners with more international experience .

surprise packages like this win you worldcup. Players who add the X factor are needed in the squad.

 

[OMB]

Asif Afridi removes Umar Amin!
The 52-run third-wicket partnership ends.

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[DeadlyVenom]

Its hard to judge solely from highlights videos but his bowling looks fairly innocuous and tame. Yes he has a knack for taking wickets but is it a case of a brief purple patch?

 

[Titan24]

Its hard to judge solely from highlights videos but his bowling looks fairly innocuous and tame. Yes he has a knack for taking wickets but is it a case of a brief purple patch?

His accuracy of stock ball as well as arm ball along with change of pace and flight has been exceptional.

 

[Bewal Express]

Its hard to judge solely from highlights videos but his bowling looks fairly innocuous and tame. Yes he has a knack for taking wickets but is it a case of a brief purple patch?

Thats what i though until i watched him bowl. He is better than that.

 

[moghul]

Why not , Rafattullah Mohmand was also very prolific performer in domestic cricket and what happened when old man exposed to international cricket , lets do the same with this "youngster" Asif Afridi with no international experience .

 

[b.lesner]

Some reports were saying Asif Afridi is in contention to replace Imad Wasim but i don't know how much these rumours are true.

 

[badsha001]

Why not , Rafattullah Mohmand was also very prolific performer in domestic cricket and what happened when old man exposed to international cricket , lets do the same with this "youngster" Asif Afridi with no international experience .

How do you get international experience if you don't get selected for having no international experience?

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

He should get the chance for world t20 if performing in domestics is an actual criteria for the selection in national team. Could be a really tricky surprise for other teams.

 

[Major]

over rated bowler. Again, he doesnt spin the ball.

He is no different than what Mohammad Nawaz or Imad Waseem offers. Nawaz could get some spin however.

We need proper spinners, dont need these diddly dobblers that come in and bowl a ball without even tryint to spin it.

 

[arif_2021]

over rated bowler. Again, he doesnt spin the ball.

He is no different than what Mohammad Nawaz or Imad Waseem offers. Nawaz could get some spin however.

We need proper spinners, dont need these diddly dobblers that come in and bowl a ball without even tryint to spin it.

spin is not the only criteria. variability in pace and deception is the other important skill which he has. he is also very accurate

 

[hitthestump]

He should get the chance for world t20 if performing in domestics is an actual criteria for the selection in national team. Could be a really tricky surprise for other teams.

I quite like the idea of using him as a surprise. Particularly it depends on how much we feel other teams have figured out Imad Wasim by now. They're quite similar but everyone has seen Imad now.

 

[shamaan]

I would go with imad and nawaz over afridi

 

[MenInG]

Iftikhar Ahmed and Asif Afridi - defying age!

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[Local.Dada]

Saying “A 34 year old Afridi” doesn’t roll smoothly off the tounge

 

[MenInG]

Doing well in the final

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[transparent opacity]

 

[ElRaja]

proper clever bowler, varies pace and length and doesn't let batsmen settle. should be in the wider national t20 squad.

 

[Salman4.]

He shows no nerves ever.
Super calm.

 

[Bewal Express]

Played himself right into contention for the T20 WC in Australia. He would be a decent bet on the bigger Australian boundaries

 

[shaaik]

Played himself right into contention for the T20 WC in Australia. He would be a decent bet on the bigger Australian boundaries

I so much wanted him selected in last years t20 World Cup. I m sure him in the playing 11 vs Australia in the semi finals would hv been a different story. He had a stellar domestic t20 cup just before the worldt20 both with bat and ball and warranted a place in the squad at least if not in playing 11..

 

[Rana]

Pakistan are playing all rounders Imad, Shadab and Nawaz as spinners

But none of them are as reliable to bowl in the powerplay like this guy. It’s unfortunate that he looks like an uncle who has no batting ability. Very good bowler but adds nothing else besides that really

 

[Maher96]

Has impressed with his accuracy and calmness, doesn’t get hit for a lot and has t he ability to pick up wickets.

 

[moghul]

Very very impressed with this guy, he is better than any other spinner around, should be taken to T20WC.

 

[shamaan]

Pakistan are playing all rounders Imad, Shadab and Nawaz as spinners

But none of them are as reliable to bowl in the powerplay like this guy. It’s unfortunate that he looks like an uncle who has no batting ability. Very good bowler but adds nothing else besides that really

He has batting ability go look at his stats but I'd take the three names ahead of asif in batting.

 

[shamaan]

I would not take Imad in the next world cup squad instead I would take Shadab and Nawaz and have Asif in the reserve squad.

 

[Maher96]

If someone can come in and win the country a title with their skill then age should not be a criteria.

MS used him very well where he has bowled beautifully and picked up wickets, looked dangerous. Time on Imad is surely catching up.

Let’s see how this year pans out in T20’s.

 

[indian_sap]

How Asif Afridi isnt in this team baffles me!

The guy has delivered solid performances in domestic, turns the ball, is quite smart when it comes to his bowling + better batter than Nauman Ali + more importantly, has delivered gutsy performances both in the domestic and in the recent PSL including the finals. International teams need such strong characters. Whereas, Nauman ali looks jaded hasnt looked that threatening for a while.

Automatic solid replacement imho

 

[Salman4.]

I don't know why he isn't considered for national selection.
He is calm and smart as hell. Maybe he is appreciated less because of his age, otherwise he is excellent.

 

[Bewal Express]

NA did ok at the start but offers little these days. I agree AA would offer more than this in the short term. The biggest spinner of the ball is Asghar but he cant land 2 balls in the same place

 

[Titan24]

Selected for Pakistan’s ODI and T20I squads. Well deserved.

 

[Muhammad Kaleem]

Pakistanis have uncle-phobia. Social media will definitely boo at him now that he is selected in the national squad.

 

[shamaan]

Well deserved selection pluss he can hit a long ball.

 

[Rana]

About time

He would be a better addition than Imad Wasim

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

So no one has a problem with a 34 year old uncle (who is likely older) debuting, but Fawad Alam and Azhar Ali are too old to play for Pakistan?

Personally, I don't care about his age. But the idea that he is a replacement for Imad Wasim is an absolute joke. And the PowerPoint King Mohammad Wasim should be ashamed of himself for continually wasting the career of Pakistan's best limited-overs all-rounder.

 

[ElRaja]

So no one has a problem with a 34 year old uncle (who is likely older) debuting, but Fawad Alam and Azhar Ali are too old to play for Pakistan?

because batting relies on reflexes, and as you get older they weaken, the vast majority of world class batsmen fell off badly at some point in their late 30s, especially against express pace.

spinners on the other hand can play till mid 40s, they don't need amazing reflexes or physical prowess, just control and good decision making, especially in t20s.

thought it was fairly self evident.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

because batting relies on reflexes, and as you get older they weaken, the vast majority of world class batsmen fell off badly at some point in their late 30s, especially against express pace.

spinners on the other hand can play till mid 40s, they don't need amazing reflexes or physical prowess, just control and good decision making, especially in t20s.

thought it was fairly self evident.

Oh please. This is just another half-truth. Most spinners don't play past their late 30s/early 40s either...if they last that long.

If you are good enough you can play well into your 40s. And there are plenty of batters and spinners who did.

 

[Major]

Pathetic selection. I can bet my top dollar this guy wont even survive in international cricket


No spim, just throwing dibbly doblies.

We already have nawaz for that. Pathetic selection.

If you want to select a spinner, than atleast select someone who spins the ball

 

[shamaan]

Pathetic selection. I can bet my top dollar this guy wont even survive in international cricket


No spim, just throwing dibbly doblies.

We already have nawaz for that. Pathetic selection.

If you want to select a spinner, than atleast select someone who spins the ball

What other options is thier ?

 

[ElRaja]

Oh please. This is just another half-truth. Most spinners don't play past their late 30s/early 40s either...if they last that long.

If you are good enough you can play well into your 40s. And there are plenty of batters and spinners who did.

tendu, punter, kallis, dravid, cook, top 5 run getters in tests all averaged considerably lower in the last two years of their career.

youve conflated two issues and confused yourself, a short term t20i selection, and the selection of test regulars.

how many currently active batters are playing test cricket in their 40s?

 

[moghul]

Until I didn't see him , I was not convinced that a spinner in his mid 30s with no international experience should be inducted to national team. But , after watching him in PSL, I was really impressed. His confidence , variety and control was amazing . I think it would not be a bad idea to try him against touring Aussies and if he does well , should play T20 WC later this year and WC in India next year. Of course not a long term prospect but potentially a very good one for couple of years.

 

[indian_sap]

The guy has delivered solid performances in domestic, turns the ball, is quite smart when it comes to his bowling + better batter than Nauman Ali + more importantly, has delivered gutsy performances both in the domestic and in the recent PSL including the finals. International teams need such strong characters. Whereas, Nauman ali looks jaded hasnt looked that threatening for a while.

Automatic solid replacement imho

Finally, they hear us and select him in both ODIs n T20Is, guy is a solid character with good calm head on his shoulders should do well imho

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

tendu, punter, kallis, dravid, cook, top 5 run getters in tests all averaged considerably lower in the last two years of their career.

youve conflated two issues and confused yourself, a short term t20i selection, and the selection of test regulars.

how many currently active batters are playing test cricket in their 40s?

How many active spinners are currently playing test cricket in their 40s? This is a half-truth. Yes, its only natural for your reflexes and body in general to get slower with age, but (a) every individual experiences this at a different point of their life and (b) its not necessary for this to effect every individual's performance at the same time.

Unless you have a complete statistical breakdown of players throughout the history of test cricket, naming 5 cricketers who all happened to play in essentially the same era does not help you make your case definitively. Because you have essentially ignored other variables that might have impacted their runs such as the quality of bowling during that period, difficulty of pitches, conditions they played most in etc. etc.

Because I could just as easily name someone like Jack Hobbs. Who thrived in his 40s, and had some of the best years of his career then. And this is from the era of uncovered pitches when batting sometimes was seriously dangerous and injurious to your life. Hobbs, who has also scored more FC runs (61,237) and FC centuries (197) than anyone else, scored his last 98 centuries after his 40th birthday.

Misbah-ul-Haq averaged 47.82 after the age of 40. And 54 in his last year in test cricket when he was 43 years old. Chanderpaul too played into his 40s and had one of his best years the same year he turned 40. I'm sure if I looked more deeply I would be able to find even more examples of guys who have done well after they turned 40.

So while its true that some batters might regress and not do particularly well after they turn 40, there's plenty of evidence to suggest that others might not be affected by age either. And may take longer than others to regress performance-wise.

 

[Titan24]

Next 50 overs WC is in India and thats just around a year away. Surely you dont worry about the age of the player 1 year away from WC when he has been the best whieteball spinner in domestic circuit for almost couple of seasons. Also if a guy is performing and is leaving behind the young ones by some distance then surely you give that guy a go as per any logic.

 

[ElRaja]

How many active spinners are currently playing test cricket in their 40s? This is a half-truth. Yes, its only natural for your reflexes and body in general to get slower with age, but (a) every individual experiences this at a different point of their life and (b) its not necessary for this to effect every individual's performance at the same time.

Unless you have a complete statistical breakdown of players throughout the history of test cricket, naming 5 cricketers who all happened to play in essentially the same era does not help you make your case definitively. Because you have essentially ignored other variables that might have impacted their runs such as the quality of bowling during that period, difficulty of pitches, conditions they played most in etc. etc.

Because I could just as easily name someone like Jack Hobbs. Who thrived in his 40s, and had some of the best years of his career then. And this is from the era of uncovered pitches when batting sometimes was seriously dangerous and injurious to your life. Hobbs, who has also scored more FC runs (61,237) and FC centuries (197) than anyone else, scored his last 98 centuries after his 40th birthday.

Misbah-ul-Haq averaged 47.82 after the age of 40. And 54 in his last year in test cricket when he was 43 years old. Chanderpaul too played into his 40s and had one of his best years the same year he turned 40. I'm sure if I looked more deeply I would be able to find even more examples of guys who have done well after they turned 40.

So while its true that some batters might regress and not do particularly well after they turn 40, there's plenty of evidence to suggest that others might not be affected by age either. And may take longer than others to regress performance-wise.

yes, i have cherry picked, there all modern cricketers who were pbly in the top 10, if not top 15 of the greatest batsmen in history. they are far more relevant to modern cricket.

im talking about modern cricket, misbah was anomolous, but even he struggled against pace, he made most of his runs post 40 in uae, average half away from the uae, and survived pace bowlers by literally taking the blows on his body. im well aware players back in the day played till their 40s, but it hasnt been the norm since the late 80s, pretty much since the west indies fielded four express pacers.

secondly there are plenty of 40+ spinners playing t20s, shahid afridi was playing psl at 46, hogg was nearly 50. t20 is signifcantly less demanding so it makes no sense to compare the selection of afridi in the t20 squad to azhars or fawads in the test team.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

yes, i have cherry picked, there all modern cricketers who were pbly in the top 10, if not top 15 of the greatest batsmen in history. they are far more relevant to modern cricket.

im talking about modern cricket, misbah was anomolous, but even he struggled against pace, he made most of his runs post 40 in uae, average half away from the uae, and survived pace bowlers by literally taking the blows on his body. im well aware players back in the day played till their 40s, but it hasnt been the norm since the late 80s, pretty much since the west indies fielded four express pacers.

secondly there are plenty of 40+ spinners playing t20s, shahid afridi was playing psl at 46, hogg was nearly 50. t20 is signifcantly less demanding so it makes no sense to compare the selection of afridi in the t20 squad to azhars or fawads in the test team.

What does modern cricket have to do with a person's age or reflexes? Something that is based on natural factors.

I don't think there are. And even Afridi and Hogg were playing T20 cricket which simply is not the same as playing test cricket. Hogg didn't even play a FC match after 2008, Afridi didn't play one after 2015.

 

[gazza619]

Pathetic selection. I can bet my top dollar this guy wont even survive in international cricket


No spim, just throwing dibbly doblies.

We already have nawaz for that. Pathetic selection.

If you want to select a spinner, than atleast select someone who spins the ball

I disagree. This guy has shown great calmness and control in tense PSL games. I think he will do well.

 

[indian_sap]

I disagree. This guy has shown great calmness and control in tense PSL games. I think he will do well.

Agree...the guy has delivered solid performances in domestic, turns the ball, is quite smart when it comes to his bowling + better batter + more importantly, has delivered gutsy performances both in the domestic and in the recent PSL including the finals. International teams need such strong characters who can think on their feet. I believe he will do well.