Mohammad Asif’s career – A self-destructed one - Opinion
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 has produced numerous great bowlers over the last six decades, who have ruled the cricketing world and played a massive role in making the Green Shirts a force to reckon with in the international sport.
For the amazement of the rest of the globe, the country has regularly thrown great bowling talent at the global stage, the latest being http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Amir-c76675, who were considered to be the finest among the current generation
of speedsters.
However, unfortunately, both of them along with the former skipper, Salman Butt, at the peak of their careers, have been banned for lengthy periods by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for bowling deliberate no-balls during
the Lord’s Test in 2010 against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013, all three were later jailed.
After completing his sentence in England, Asif was released from prison in May this year, who said upon landing back in Pakistan, "I am hopeful that I will come out of the problem that I found myself in unwittingly."
The 29-year-old cricketer from Sheikhupura is a true product of the country’s domestic cricket, having made his way to the national team after performing exceptionally well in the Quaid e Azam Trophy for a number of years.
Asif caught the attention of the ex-Pakistan coach, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 in 2004-05. The fast bowler made his Test debut in Sydney but miserably failed to make an impression
against the world’s best team, resulting in immediate exclusion from the squad.
However, the seam bowler showed the strength of his character and learnt from his mistakes, performing well in the next domestic season to earn a recall. In his comeback series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 in 2006, the right-armer grabbed seven
wickets in the Karachi Test to help his country dismantle the Men in Blue.
Since then, the Sheikhupura-born fast bowler never looked back and delivered extra-ordinary performances against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760, Asif
was appointed as the vice-captain, only to be replaced by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Salman-Butt-c2418 after a couple of months.
Just days before the ICC Champions Trophy 2006, Asif was disgraced after testing positive to the anabolic steroid, nandrolone. He was later banned by the ICC, before getting the benefit of the doubt and pardoned in the same year.
In 2008, Asif was arrested at the Dubai airport for carrying drugs in his wallet, for which he was detained for almost a month. Asif faced a lot of controversies over the years but refused to learn, before a final blow (spot-fixing
controversy) threatened to end a career, in which the fast bowler’s immense ability remained unfulfilled.
The extra-ordinary seam bowler vows to return to international cricket but the cricket fans know that they are not likely to see him again in Pakistan colours.
Asif claimed, "A http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ian-Douglas-Fisher-c63819 will never forget how to swim. A bowler doesn't forget how to bowl well. I have maintained fitness and I will try my best to keep up with this level of fitness. I am thankful to all those who have prayed for
me. I would like to be back in the ground playing and I hope my fans will soon see me back."
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Adam-John-Crosthwaite-c41922 cricketer and maintained that Asif had a lot of potential.
In his short but impressive career, Asif troubled even the best in the business and was predicted to be the new http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Glenn-Donald-McGrath-c60183 of the world cricket.
Taking into account Pakistan’s present fast bowling resources, Asif is dearly missed, but it is equally depressing that a player of such potential ruined his career like he did.
Disclaimer: Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely of the author and do not represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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