Ricky Ponting: “Mohammad Asif was a very good player, a seam and swing bowler, very good and very skilful”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Legendary Australia captain and batsman Ricky Ponting has praised former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif, saying he was “very good and very skilful”.
Asif was considered a generational talent as he bowled impeccable lines and lengths, and had the ability to swing the ball a long way.
South Africa batsman Hashim Amla, England cricketer Kevin Pietersen and ex-India player Robin Uthappa are among those who have picked the 42-year-old as the toughest bowler they faced.
South Africa legend AB de Villiers went one step further, saying he would have the Sheikhupura native bowl for his life as he was “unplayable” when he had the new ball in his hand.
Ponting agreed about Asif’s talent and how lethal he was as a bowler.
“Mohammad Asif was a very good player, a seam and swing bowler, very good and very skilful,” he was quoted as saying by TOK Sports on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Asif represented Pakistan in 23 Tests and took 106 wickets at an average of 24.36.
He also picked up 46 wickets in 38 ODIs at an average of 33.13.
As for his T20I career, the Sheikhupura native ended up with 13 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 26.38.
The Pakistan team recently played an ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, where they lost to the Black Caps in the final.
Next up for the men in green will be the 2025 Champions Trophy, which will take place from February 19 to March 9.
Pakistan Squad for 2025 Champions Trophy: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah