Pakistan batter Asif Ali has brought the curtain down on his international career, announcing his retirement from all formats of the game. The hard-hitting right-hander represented Pakistan in 21 ODIs and 58 T20Is, scoring a total of 959 runs, which included three half-centuries.
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| Image Credits: Patrika News |
Asif made his ODI debut in 2018 and was part of the squad that featured in the Asia Cup the same year. A year later, he earned a place in Pakistan’s squad for the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in England, where he was entrusted with providing firepower in the middle order.
His reputation as a big-hitter, however, was most prominent in T20 cricket. Asif played in two consecutive ICC Men’s T20 World Cups—the 2021 edition in the UAE and Oman, and the 2022 tournament in Australia. Known for his ability to clear the ropes under pressure, he often featured as a designated finisher in Pakistan’s batting lineup.
In addition to global tournaments, Asif also represented Pakistan at the ACC T20I Asia Cup 2022. Beyond mainstream ICC events, he donned the national colors at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, where cricket was played in the T20I format.
Though his international numbers may not fully reflect his impact, Asif was celebrated for his fearless batting style and match-turning cameos. With his retirement, Pakistan bids farewell to a player who was often trusted to deliver in crunch moments and add spark to the middle order.
