Pakistan are hoping that Asif’s spin will be able to make up for Hafeez’s bowling ban

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Pakistan have included uncapped off-spinner Bilal Asif to their ODI squad for the three-match series against Zimbabwe.

Asif was only included in Pakistan’s Twenty20 squad initially, but did not get an opportunity to play in both of the Twenty20 Internationals against Zimbabwe.

However, with all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez having been banned from bowling for one year due to an illegal action, Pakistan are hoping that Asif can plug that hole.

Asif has played 21 List A games and taken 33 wickets an excellent average of 22.84.

“The request to retain Bilal Asif had been made by the team management, as conveyed by the manager Mr Intikhab Alam,” chief selector Haroon Rashid said in a statement. “In a separate discussion with Misbah-ul-Haq, it was put forth by the Pakistan Test captain that since the England team contains five left-handed batsmen and because of Hafeez’s inability to bowl at international level, we were left with no offspin bowling options in the Test squad.”