Aaqib Javed: “I actually picked Mohammad Asif. He wasn’t in the system. That’s how I know Asif a lot”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan fast bowler Aaqib Javed has revealed that he was the one who “actually picked” swing maestro Mohammad Asif.
Many regarded Asif as a generational talent due to the way he could move the ball and how much he troubled some of the best batsmen in the world.
South Africa batsman Hashim Amla, iconic England cricketer Kevin Pietersen and former India player Robin Uthappa are among those who have called the 41-year-old the toughest bowler they have faced.
Add to that, Proteas legend AB de Villiers admitted that he would pick the Sheikhupura native to bowl for his life as he was “unplayable” with the new ball.
Aaqib noted that if he hadn’t discovered Asif, the outstanding pace bowler may have gone unnoticed as he “wasn’t in the system”.
“I actually picked Mohammad Asif. He wasn’t in the system. That’s how I know Asif a lot,” the 52-year-old, who is currently serving as Sri Lanka’s fast bowling coach, was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
The Pakistan team is currently taking on Bangladesh in a two-match Test series and are 1-0 down after losing the first Test by 10 wickets.
They will look to bounce back in the second Test, which starts on August 30 in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan Squad for Bangladesh Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Hurraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Shaheen Shah Afridi
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