LAHORE: Out-of-favour Pakistan batter Asif Ali called it a day from international cricket on Monday night after representing the country in 21 One-day Internationals and 58 T20Is.
The 33-year-old played his last match for Pakistan at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. In a social media post announcing his retirement, Asif said representing the country was “the greatest honour of my life.”
“To my fans, team-mates, and coaches, thank you for your love, belief, and support through every high and low,” he added.
A right-hander known for his power-hitting, Asif made his T20I debut against the West Indies in April 2018, fresh off Islamabad United’s Pakistan Super League triumph that year, where he struck three successive sixes in the final at a crucial stage of the chase. His ODI debut followed two months later.
Primarily utilised as a finisher, Asif carved out a niche in Pakistan’s middle order, boasting strike rates of 133.87 in T20Is and 121.65 in ODIs. His standout moment came at the 2021 T20 World Cup against Afghanistan, where he produced a breathtaking cameo. With Pakistan needing 24 off 12 balls, Asif hammered four sixes in the penultimate over off Karim Janat, racing to 25 from just seven deliveries and sealing the chase with an over to spare — a knock pivotal to Pakistan’s march to the semi-finals.
Asif will also be remembered for his on-field spat with Afghanistan’s Fareed Ahmad during their thrilling Asia Cup encounter in Sharjah.
Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2025