‘Who is laughing now?’: Wasim Akram slams Asif Ali critics

Legendary Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram has taken a dig at Asif Ali’s critics, after the latter led the Men in Green to victory in the T20 World Cup match against Afghanistan on Friday in Dubai.

Pakistan needed 24 runs off the last two overs and Asif sealed the victory with an incendiary 25 not out off just seven balls, which also earned him the player of the match award.

“Pakistanis have learned one word, which they use frequently, that is parchi [someone who is not selected on merit]. My question is, who is laughing now? That’s Asif Ali. Criticise a player to a certain extent, don’t go below the belt,” said Akram on A Sports.

Pakistan put one foot in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup after Asif Ali's scintillating power-hitting secured their nervy five-wicket victory.

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The 2009 champions restricted neighbours Afghanistan to a modest 147-6 in a match between the top two teams in Group II.

Skipper Babar Azam anchored Pakistan's chase with a fluent 51 but it was Asif who smashed four sixes in the penultimate over from Karim Janat to clinch the see-saw contest with six balls to spare.

Having beaten India and New Zealand in their first two matches, Pakistan are effectively in the last four with clashes against minnows Namibia and Scotland remaining.