Mohammad Asif is a former Pakistani fast-medium bowler. He is renowned for his swing and seam movement, but his career was cut short by controversies. It includes the 2010 spot-fixing scandal. Despite playing only 23 Tests, he took over 100 wickets and is remembered as one of the most skillful bowlers Pakistan produced.
Profile
- Full Name: Mohammad Asif
- Born: December 20, 1982, Sheikhupura, Punjab
- Height: 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
- Batting Style: Left-handed
- Bowling Style: Right-arm fast-medium
- Role: Bowler
- International Career: 2005–2010
International Debuts
- Test Debut: January 3, 2005 vs Australia
- ODI Debut: December 21, 2005 vs England
- T20I Debut: August 28, 2006 vs England
Mohammad Asif Statistics
| Format | Matches | Wickets | Bowling Average | Best Bowling | 5-wicket hauls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 23 | 103 | 23.18 | 6/41 | 7 |
| ODI | 38 | 46 | 33.13 | 3/28 | 0 |
| T20I | 11 | 13 | 26.38 | 4/18 | 0 |
Career Highlights
- Master of swing and seam: Known for unerring accuracy and ability to move the ball both ways.
- Key spells: Famous for dismantling India’s batting in Karachi (2006) and England’s lineup at Headingley (2006).
- 2006 ICC Champions Trophy: Delivered match-winning spells.
- Controversies: Banned multiple times for doping violations and implicated in the 2010 spot-fixing scandal, ending his international career.
- Legacy: Despite a short career, many experts rate him among the most skillful fast bowlers Pakistan has ever produced.
Legacy & Reputation
Mohammad Asif is remembered as a genius with the ball, often compared to greats like Wasim Akram for his control and deception. However, his career serves as a cautionary tale of wasted talent due to poor off-field decisions.
Mohammad Asif’s Match Fixing:
Mohammad Asif’s career was overshadowed by his involvement in the 2010 Pakistan cricket spot‑fixing scandal. Alongside Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir, he was found guilty of deliberately bowling no‑balls at pre‑arranged times during the Lord’s Test against England.
Timeline of the Scandal
- August 2010: News of the World sting operation exposed bookmaker Mazhar Majeed, who revealed that Asif and Amir would deliver deliberate no‑balls.
- Lord’s Test: Asif bowled a no‑ball exactly as predicted, confirming the fix.
- September 2010: ICC suspended Asif, Amir, and Butt pending investigation.
- 2011: The UK Crown Court convicted them of conspiracy to cheat and corruption.
Consequences for Mohammad Asif
- ICC Ban: 5‑year ban from all cricket.
- Prison Sentence: 12 months in a UK jail.
- Career Impact: Ended his international career after just 23 Tests (103 wickets).
- Reputation: Once hailed as a master of swing, now remembered as a cautionary tale of wasted talent.
Legacy of the Incident
- The scandal is considered one of the darkest chapters in Pakistan cricket.
- It led to stricter ICC anti‑corruption monitoring.
- Unlike Amir, who returned in 2016, Asif never made a comeback to international cricket.
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