(Image Source: Twitter)
[Saba Sports News] Recently, Mohammad Asif garnered attention for his criticism of Babar Azam’s approach in T20I cricket, where he expressed concern about Azam playing too many dot balls in the powerplay and potentially pressuring his opening partner, Mohammad Rizwan. The 40-year-old also voiced his opinion that the current Pakistan cricket setup lacks a standout bowler, categorizing the existing crop as average.
Adding to the controversy, Asif found himself in hot water for using offensive language toward talented pacer Ihsanullah during a conversation on ‘X’ (formerly known as Twitter). In this discussion, Asif recalled a previous conversation with Ihsanullah, where he had advised the young bowler to pitch the ball full to increase the chances of dismissing batsmen.
In response, Ihsanullah stated that he would prefer to hit the batsmen on the head. A surprised Asif questioned whether this tactic would lead to dismissals, to which the young pacer responded negatively.
Mohammad Asif was once regarded as one of the world’s top seamers, known for his ability to swing the ball in both directions and consistently maintain a consistent line and length. Despite his potential for greatness, his career came to an abrupt end following his involvement in a spot-fixing scandal in 2010.
In contrast, Ihsanullah, at just 20 years old, possesses the capability to consistently bowl at speeds exceeding 150 kph. He has already made appearances in four T20Is and one ODI for Pakistan.