Asif Ali (cricketer, born 1991)

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Asif Ali

| image =

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|10|1|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan

| death_date =

| death_place =

| nickname = Laparu{{Cite web |title=Keep calm and celebrate like a #Prince – The story behind Islamabad United nicknames |url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/227785-keep-calm-and-celebrate-like-a-prince-the-story-behind-islamabad-united-nicknames |access-date=2023-04-03 |website=www.geo.tv |language=en}}

| height = 5 ft 7 in{{Cite web |title=Asif Ali's profile on CREX|url=https://crex.live/player-profile/JW/asif-ali/info}}

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Right-arm off break

| role = Middle-order batter

| international = true

| internationalspan = 2018–2022

| country = Pakistan

| odicap = 217

| odidebutdate = 13 July

| odidebutyear = 2018

| odidebutagainst = Zimbabwe

| lastodidate = 2 April

| lastodiyear = 2022

| lastodiagainst = Australia

| T20Idebutdate = 1 April

| T20Idebutyear = 2018

| T20Idebutagainst = West Indies

| lastT20Idate = 23 October

| lastT20Iyear = 2022

| lastT20Iagainst = India

| T20Icap = 76

| club1 = Faisalabad

| year1 = {{nowrap|2010/11–2017/18}}

| club2 = United Bank Limited

| year2 = 2013

| club3 = Punjab

| year3 = 2014

| club4 = Islamabad United

| year4 = 2016–2023

| clubnumber4 = 13

| club5 = Rawalpindi

| year5 = {{nowrap|2016/17–2018/19}}

| club6 = Sui Northern Gas

| year6 = {{nowrap|2016/17–2018/19}}

| club7 = Cape Town Blitz

| year7 = 2018–2019

| club8 = Islamabad

| year8 = 2018/19

| club9 = Sindh

| year9 = 2018/19

| club10 = Northern

| year10 = {{nowrap|2019/20–2021/22}}

| club11 = Dhaka Platoon

| year11 = 2019/20

| club12 = Jamaica Tallawahs

| year12 = 2020

| club13 = St Kitts & Nevis Patriots

| year13 = 2021

| club14 = Hobart Hurricanes

| year14 = 2022/23

| club15 = Peshawar Zalmi

| year15 = 2024–present

| columns = 4

| column1 = ODI

| matches1 = 21

| runs1 = 382

| bat avg1 = 25.46

| 100s/50s1 = 0/3

| top score1 = 52

| deliveries1 = 5

| wickets1 = 0

| bowl avg1 = –

| fivefor1 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = –

| catches/stumpings1 = 6/–

| column2 = T20I

| matches2 = 58

| runs2 = 577

| bat avg2 = 15.18

| 100s/50s2 = 0/0

| top score2 = 41*

| deliveries2 = –

| wickets2 = –

| bowl avg2 = –

| fivefor2 = –

| tenfor2 = –

| best bowling2 = –

| catches/stumpings2 = 21/–

| column3 = LA

| matches3 = 99

| runs3 = 2,388

| bat avg3 = 28.42

| 100s/50s3 = 4/13

| top score3 = 138

| deliveries3 = 70

| wickets3 = 3

| bowl avg3 = 30.66

| fivefor3 = 0

| tenfor3 = 0

| best bowling3 = 2/10

| catches/stumpings3 = 44/–

| column4 = T20

| matches4 = 294

| runs4 = 4,700

| bat avg4 = 22.27

| 100s/50s4 = 1/15

| top score4 = 100

| deliveries4 = 42

| wickets4 = 4

| bowl avg4 = 13.25

| fivefor4 = 0

| tenfor4 = 0

| best bowling4 = 2/27

| catches/stumpings4 = 118/–

| date = 25 April 2025

| source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/asif-ali-494230 ESPNCricinfo

}}

Asif Ali (born 1 October 1991) is a Pakistani cricketer playing for the Pakistan national cricket team. In first-class cricket, Asif represents Northern, and he plays for Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/494230.html |title=Asif Ali |access-date=13 February 2016|work=ESPN Cricinfo}}

He is one of thirty-three players to be awarded a central contract for the 2018–19 season by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).{{cite web|url=https://www.pcb.com.pk/press-release-detail/pcb-central-contracts-2018-19.html |title=PCB Central Contracts 2018–19 |work=Pakistan Cricket Board |access-date=6 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/24301169/new-central-contracts-guarantee-earnings-boost-pakistan-players |title=New central contracts guarantee earnings boost for Pakistan players |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=6 August 2018}}

Early life

Asif was born on 1 October 1991, in Faisalabad, Pakistan

Before going into professional cricket, he used to work as a labourer in an iron foundry.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1654957|title=Iron man Asif Ali hits his way to stardom|date=October 30, 2021|website=DAWN.COM}}

Domestic and T20 franchise career

Misbah-ul-Haq has played an instrumental role in his development as a cricketer and initially picked him as a power-hitter in the 2011 Super 8 Twenty20 Cup when he was a captain of the Faisalabad cricket team.

He was the leading run-scorer for Faisalabad in the 2017–18 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, with 369 runs in six matches.{{Cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/averages/batting_bowling_by_team.html?id=12073;team=2756;type=tournament |title=Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, 2017/18: Faisalabad Batting and bowling averages |access-date=8 April 2018 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}} He also played in the 2017 Everest Premier league for Pokhara Rhinos.{{Cite web|title=Asif Ali profile and biography, stats, records, averages, photos and videos|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/asif-ali-494230|access-date=2021-10-30|website=ESPNcricinfo|language=en}}

In April 2018, he was named in Punjab's squad for the 2018 Pakistan Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/191967-pakistan-cup-one-day-tournament-to-begin-in-faisalabad |title=Pakistan Cup one-day tournament to begin in Faisalabad next week |access-date=21 April 2018 |work=Geo TV}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/306831-pakistan-cup-cricket-from-25th |title=Pakistan Cup Cricket from 25th |access-date=21 April 2018 |work=The News International}} He scored the most runs for Punjab during the tournament, with 328 runs in four matches.{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/averages/batting_bowling_by_team.html?id=12333;team=3073;type=tournament |title=Pakistan Cup 2018, Punjab: Batting and bowling averages |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=4 May 2018}}

On 3 June 2018, he was selected to play for the Edmonton Royals in the players' draft for the inaugural edition of the Global T20 Canada tournament.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/global-t20-canada-complete-squads |title=Global T20 Canada: Complete Squads |work=SportsKeeda |access-date=4 June 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.crictracker.com/global-t20-canada-league-full-squads-announced/ |title=Global T20 Canada League – Full Squads announced |work=CricTracker |access-date=4 June 2018}} In October 2018, he was named in Cape Town Blitz's squad for the first edition of the Mzansi Super League T20 tournament.{{cite web|url=https://www.sport24.co.za/Cricket/live-mzansi-super-league-player-draft-20181017 |title=Mzansi Super League - full squad lists |work=Sport24 |access-date=17 October 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.iol.co.za/sport/cricket/domestic/mzansi-super-league-player-draft-the-story-so-far-17521199 |title=Mzansi Super League Player Draft: The story so far |work=Independent Online |access-date=17 October 2018}}

In March 2019, he was named in Sindh's squad for the 2019 Pakistan Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.pcb.com.pk/press-release-detail/federal-areas-aim-to-complete-hat-trick-of-pakistan-cup-titles.html |title=Federal Areas aim to complete hat-trick of Pakistan Cup titles |work=Pakistan Cricket Board |access-date=25 March 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/447913-pakistan-cup-one-day-cricket-from-april-2 |title=Pakistan Cup one-day cricket from April 2 |access-date=25 March 2019 |work=The International News}} In September 2019, he was named in the squad for the Cape Town Blitz team for the 2019 Mzansi Super League tournament.{{cite web |url=https://cricket.co.za/news/31555/MSL-20-announces-its-T20-squads |title=MSL 2.0 announces its T20 squads |work=Cricket South Africa |access-date=4 September 2019 |archive-date=4 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904081427/https://cricket.co.za/news/31555/MSL-20-announces-its-T20-squads |url-status=dead }}

In September 2019, he was named in Northern's squad for the 2019–20 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy tournament.{{cite web|url=https://www.pcb.com.pk/press-release-detail/pcb-announces-squads-for-2019-20-domestic-season.html |title=PCB announces squads for 2019-20 domestic season |work=Pakistan Cricket Board |access-date=4 September 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/27527401/sarfaraz-ahmed-babar-azam-take-charge-pakistan-domestic-sides |title=Sarfaraz Ahmed and Babar Azam to take charge of Pakistan domestic sides |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=4 September 2019}} In November 2019, he was selected to play for the Dhaka Platoon in the 2019–20 Bangladesh Premier League.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/28105555/tamim-iqbal-team-coach-mohammad-salahuddin-dhaka |title=BPL draft: Tamim Iqbal to team up with coach Mohammad Salahuddin for Dhaka |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=18 November 2019}}

In July 2020, he was named in the Jamaica Tallawahs squad for the 2020 Caribbean Premier League.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/29417692/nabi,-lamichhane,-dunk-earn-big-cpl-2020-draft |title=Nabi, Lamichhane, Dunk earn big in CPL 2020 draft |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=6 July 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.windiescricket.com/news/teams-selected-hero-cpl-2020/ |title=Teams Selected for Hero CPL 2020 |work=Cricket West Indies |access-date=6 July 2020}} In October 2020, he was drafted by the Jaffna Stallions for the inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/30148161/lanka-premier-league-2020-chris-gayle-andre-russell-shahid-afridi-big-names-taken-lpl-draft |title=Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Shahid Afridi among big names taken at LPL draft |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=22 October 2020}} In January 2021, he was named in Northern's squad for the 2020–21 Pakistan Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.pcb.com.pk/press-release-detail/pakistan-cup-one-day-tournament-promises-action-packed-cricket.html |title=Pakistan Cup One-Day Tournament promises action-packed cricket |work=Pakistan Cricket Board |access-date=7 January 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cricketworld.com/pakistan-cup-one-day-tournament-fixtures-schedule-teams-player-squads-all-you-need-to-know/68040.htm |title=Pakistan Cup One-Day Tournament: Fixtures Schedule, Teams, Player Squads – All you need to Know |work=Cricket World |access-date=7 January 2021}}

He was picked by St Kitts & Nevis Patriots for CPL 2021.{{Cite web|title=Asif joins St Kitts and Nevis Patriots|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/877466-asif-joins-st-kitts-and-nevis-patriots|access-date=2021-10-31|website=www.thenews.com.pk|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Asif Ali Joins St Kitts & Nevis Patriots for CPL 2021|url=https://propakistani.pk/2021/08/12/asif-ali-joins-st-kitts-nevis-patriots-for-cpl-2021/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031150731/https://propakistani.pk/2021/08/12/asif-ali-joins-st-kitts-nevis-patriots-for-cpl-2021/ |archive-date=2021-10-31 }} In December 2021, he was signed by Islamabad United following the players' draft for the 2022 Pakistan Super League.{{cite web|url=https://www.pcb.com.pk/press-release-detail/franchises-finalise-squad-for-hbl-psl-2022-.html |title=Franchises finalise squad for HBL PSL 2022 |work=Pakistan Cricket Board |access-date=12 December 2021}} In July 2022, he was signed by the Colombo Stars for the third edition of the Lanka Premier League.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/lpl-2022-draft-kandy-falcons-sign-wanindu-hasaranga-bhanuka-rajapaksa-to-turn-out-for-dambulla-giants-1323338 |title=LPL 2022 draft: Kandy Falcons sign Hasaranga; Rajapaksa to turn out for Dambulla Giants |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=6 July 2022}}

In August 2022, he was signed by the Hobart Hurricanes for BBL 12.{{Cite web |title=Hobart Hurricanes pick Shadab, Asif, and Faheem for BBL 12 |url=https://www.geosuper.tv/latest/18048-hobart-hurricanes-pick-shadab-asif-and-faheem-for-bbl-12 |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=www.geosuper.tv |language=en-US}}

International career

In Mar 2018, he was named in Pakistan's Twenty20 International (T20I) squad for their series against the West Indies.{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22918336/asif-ali-hussain-talat-shaheen-afridi-picked-wi-t20is |title=Asif Ali, Talat and Shaheen Afridi picked for WI T20Is |publisher=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=26 March 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/651232 |title=Afridi, Talat, Ali bring gush of youth to Pakistan |publisher=International Cricket Council |access-date=28 March 2018}} He made his T20I debut for Pakistan against the West Indies on 1 April 2018.{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1140069.html |title=1st T20I, West Indies tour of Pakistan at Karachi, Apr 1 2018 |publisher=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=1 April 2018}} He made his ODI debut for Pakistan against Zimbabwe on 13 July 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1142920.html |title=1st ODI, Pakistan Tour of Zimbabwe at Bulawayo, Jul 13 2018 |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=13 July 2018}}

In May 2019, he was named in Pakistan's squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup, after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named their final fifteen-man squad for the tournament.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/26785619/wahab-riaz-mohammad-amir-asif-ali-included-pakistan-world-cup-squad |title=Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Asif Ali included in Pakistan World Cup squad |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=20 May 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1223509 |title=Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz named in Pakistan's World Cup squad |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=20 May 2019}} Ali struggled to make an impact in the first three years of his international career, and was often sidelined from the team.{{cite news |last1=Khan |first1=Khalid H. |title=ANALYSIS: Brittle Pakistan must resolve Asif Ali enigma before T20 World Cup |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1620157 |access-date=21 November 2021 |work=DAWN.COM |date=25 April 2021 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Can Pakistan get the real Asif Ali to show up more often? |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/osman-samiuddin-can-pakistan-get-the-real-asif-ali-to-show-up-more-often-1267437 |access-date=21 November 2021 |work=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}

=2021 ICC T20 World Cup=

In September 2021, he was named in Pakistan's squad for the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/asif-ali-khusdil-shah-included-in-pakistan-t20-wc-squad-sharjeel-khan-left-out-1276467| title=Sharjeel Khan dropped from T20 World Cup squad; Asif Ali, Khushdil Shah make 15-man cut |work= ESPN Cricnfo |access-date= 6 September 2021}} His selection was criticized by many people including ex-cricketers{{Cite web|date=2021-09-15|title='Stop criticising for once. It's annoying and frustrating': 'Angry' Wasim Akram reacts to backlash received by PCB|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/stop-criticising-for-once-it-s-annoying-and-frustrating-angry-wasim-akram-reacts-to-shots-being-fired-at-pcb-over-picking-t20-world-cup-squad-101631696985080.html|access-date=2021-11-01|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=September 15, 2021|title=Wasim Akram calls for end to criticism of Pakistan's T20 World Cup squad: It's annoying and frustrating|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/wasim-akram-calls-for-end-to-criticism-of-pakistan-s-t20-world-cup-squad-it-s-annoying-and-frustrating-1853145-2021-09-15|access-date=2021-11-01|website=India Today|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=T20 World Cup: Sohaib Maqsood responds to Fahad Mustafa over his criticism of Asif Ali|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/375577-sohaib-maqsood-bats-for-asif-ali-defends-his-t20-world-cup-selection|access-date=2021-11-01|website=www.geo.tv|language=en}} but he proved his selection right by scoring crucial runs against New Zealand and Afghanistan.{{Cite web|date=2021-10-26|title=Late cameo from Asif Ali fires Pakistan past New Zealand at T20 World Cup|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/oct/26/new-zealand-pakistan-t20-world-cup-match-report|access-date=2021-11-01|website=the Guardian|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2021-10-30|title=Asif Ali, the new finisher in town|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/asif-ali-the-new-finisher-in-town-7598120/|access-date=2021-11-01|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Asif Ali thanks his believers as he comes good in green again|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/afg-vs-pak-t20-world-cup-asif-ali-thanks-his-believers-as-he-comes-good-in-green-again-1286018|access-date=2021-11-01|website=ESPNcricinfo|language=en}}{{Cite web|title='Remember the name 2.0': How Asif Ali took Pakistan home in Dubai|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/10/30/t20-world-cup-how-asif-spared-pakistans-blushes-v-afghanistan|access-date=2021-11-01|website=www.aljazeera.com|language=en}} He won the man of the match award for scoring unbeaten 25 off 7 balls against Afghanistan.{{Cite web|date=2021-10-30|title='Asif you beauty': Celebrities cheer on Asif Ali after his match winning performance against Afghanistan|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1188694|access-date=2021-11-01|website=Images|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2021-10-30|title=Iron man Asif Ali hits his way to stardom|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1654957|access-date=2021-11-01|website=DAWN.COM|language=en}}

Asif Ali won the Player of the Month award in November 2021 for his match-winning performances for Pakistan during the T20 World Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2346812|title=ICC Players of the Month for October revealed|work=International Cricket Council|access-date=2021-11-10}}{{cite web|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/381188-t20-world-cup-pakistans-finisher-asif-ali-voted-icc-player-of-the-month|title=T20 World Cup: Pakistan's 'Finisher' Asif Ali voted ICC Player of the Month|work=geo.tv|access-date=2021-11-10}}

= Asia Cup 2022 =

He was named in the Pakistan's squad for the Asia Cup 2022.{{Cite web |title=All the squads for 2022 Asia Cup |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2735663 |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=www.icc-cricket.com |language=en}} On September 8, 2022, he was fined 25% of match fees for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the match against Afghanistan after he got involved in a heated exchange with Afghanistan's bowler Fareed Ahmad.{{Cite web |title=Asif Ali and Fareed Ahmad punished for breaching ICC Code of Conduct |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2786182 |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=www.icc-cricket.com |language=en}}