Asif took seven wickets during his team’s memorable win over their arch-rivals
04 May, 2020
PHOTO: AFP
Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif has recalled his famous bowling performance against arch-rivals India, during a Test match at the National Stadium in Karachi in 2006.
The right-arm bowler took 4/78 in the first innings while also bagging three crucial top-order wickets — Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar — in the second innings as Pakistan completed a massive 341-run victory.
“So my all spells were good, but if I had to narrow it down, I'd remember the Karachi Test against India. The biggest batting line-up of the time,” said Asif in an interview with espncricinfo.
“I remember Shoaib Akhtar in the dressing room worrying about how we'd get them out. I just got them out and showed him. So that particular game I remember,” he added.
In the same year, Asif also rocked Sri Lankan batting lineup with a splendid bowling performance in the Kandy Test match — which Pakistan won by eight wickets. He claimed 11 wickets, with figures of 6/44 and 5/27 in the first and second innings, respectively.
Speaking about this particular match, Asif opened up on how he was the only Pakistan bowler that was able to make the ball swing.
“That Kandy Test where I don't really remember who but either Umar Gul or Rao Iftikhar Anjum came to me and asked how the hell I was making the ball swing, when for them the ball wasn't moving at all. Anyway, I don't know, either I was in a hurry or probably they [Sri Lankan batsmen] were in a hurry (laughs). Those 11 wickets were fun,” he said.
Asif’s career went sideways after his involvement in the infamous 2010 spot-fixing scandal. After serving a seven-year ban, he returned to first-class cricket but never got a chance to don Pakistan colours again.
