Pakistan middle-order bat Asif Ali is in the spotlight after hitting a flurry of sixes in his late cameo to end the Super 12 Group 2 encounter of the T20 World Cup 2021 against Afghanistan in Dubai on Friday (October 29).
Asif is being showered with praise by Pakistan fans and experts for his amazing cameo of 25 not out off just seven deliveries, including four sixes.
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With Pakistan needing a further 19 runs off the last two overs, the attacking right-hander took control of things and blasted a string of maximums against Afghanistan pacer Karim Janat to end the game in his team’s favour.
For his late-order blitz, Asif was handed the ‘Player of the Match’ as he went on to reveal that he had foretold his more experienced partner Shoaib Malik that he would take down Janat for sixes and finish off the proceedings in the penultimate over.
“I was confident of finishing it off from this end and that’s what I told Shoaib Malik before he got out. I look at the situation of the match, and I target the bowlers accordingly.”
“I was talking to Shoaib when I walked in to bat and I told him that I was confident enough of getting 20-25 in one over against Karim Janat, which I did.”
Asif said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
The inexperience from young Janat showed up as he failed to execute any of his yorkers under pressure and allowed Asif to get underneath the ball for each of his brutal maximums.
This was the second consecutive game where Asif came to the party for Pakistan. In the previous Super 12 encounter against New Zealand, the powerhitter had struck a 12-ball 27 not out, including three sixes, to help his side secure a win by five wickets on a tricky pitch in Sharjah.
There were question marks raised from certain corners when Asif was selected in Pakistan’s squad, but the right-hander has proved his doubters wrong and repaid the trust shown in him by the team management and selectors.
