Mohammad Asif -From Road to Greatness to Dungeon of Darkness

It has been 17 years when two of the greatest bowlers this sport have ever seen played their last game, since then Pakistan has produced some talented pacers, but there might be little argument that Mohammad Asif was the most versatile of all

Mohammad Asif - A tale of what could have been?

When spot-fixing hit Pakistani cricket a decade ago, the main focus was to repair the damage suffered by the country’s cricket. However, the losses were so high that it was not possible to fill the gaps. One of the main casualties of the fixing scandal was Mohammad Asif. Asif at the time of scandal was only 27 and had become pace spearhead of the team. He was among the best bowlers in the world and only a few who could master all the conditions, like him.

Asif played International cricket for six years, starting with a disastrous Test debut at Sydney in 2005 and ending with another catastrophe at Lords in 2010. However it was during these six years, the world saw the number of tricks from his bag. Asif was not about new or old ball, he was not about any certain condition. He could swing and seam the cherry-like a magician, reverse it at his own will, could make even the best in the business look like a fool. His run-up, his follow-through, his wrist work and especially how he use to plan for every batsman, there was a sense of amusement, attraction, and intimation.

Asif was a fox, and he was not a normal fox, he was an arctic fox, who looked gentle and harmless but instead is a canny customer, He uses to hunt the hunters and he never liked to do it in groups but on his own. He uses to observe his prey, the more they use to think they are on top would bring more venomous smile on his face. He could sense and smell the sight of their downfall and the moment he could feel a slight sense of vulnerability he would pounce on them.

After his initial baptism with international cricket, where he was termed as an average cricketer he was dropped for a year but Asif was like an irresistible ex, whom you cannot avoid, he made a return with quite a charm, his spell on a Karachi afternoon in February of 2006, left the Indian side mesmerized. Virender Sehwag saw his stumps flying with a booming inswinger that breached his defence, VVS Laxman was the next to be left stunned with his furniture disturbed with another Asif special but the ultimate picture which still remains in everyone’s memory was Sachin Tendulkar on his knees and his off-stump flying to kiss the Karachi air. It was the day when the love affair between Asif and International cricket began.

Two months later he made the Sri Lankan jump like a cat on hot tin roof on Asgiriya stadium track, his 11-71 were one of the best figures by a Pakistan bowler outside the country. Later that Pakistan toured South Africa for a three-test series, even with all the haplessness from its batsmen, Pakistan was on top because of its pace spearheads especially, Asif who took 19 wickets at 18.47 was instrumental in a remarkable win at Port Elizabeth.

However Asif’s career was going in the opposite direction outside the field, he was involved in fractured relationships, multiple controversies some of them proved disastrous for him. In 2006 during Champions trophy Asif and Shoaib Akhtar were found positive in a drugs test, a year later during World T-20 in South Africa both were involved in an ugly spat during the training session. Nine months later, in June 2008, he was caught with an illegal substance in Dubai and held in detention for almost 3 weeks, the problems compounded when his samples were found positive in IPL’s first edition, he was handed a ban by PCB.

None of the Pakistani pacers has left similar kind of impression in last 15 years 

It is always important for anyone that not only talent but your ethics defines how your future will shape, probably success had got into Asif’s head. From 2007-2009, Asif didn’t play a single Test, few because of his fitness but the majority of the time due to controversies. The tricks in those bags were still there when he returned two years later in November 2009, In fact, the results we're getting better 19 wickets in 3 tests in New Zealand followed by 24 wickets in 5 tests against Australia only to be left embarrassed by batting impotency. Even against England in spite of being below par he had taken 12 wickets in 4 tests, also reaching to 100^th wicket milestone in only his 20^th Test at Nottingham (First Test of the series)

 

A Stain which Asif has to live with for rest of his life 

But then followed what probably no Pakistani would ever forget, three of its beloved cricketers, whom they have worshipped like heroes betrayed them, spot-fixing ended a promising career, it put a stain on Asif’s image and his life that even after a decade he is struggling to erase.

Asif’s career will be a example for generations to follow that you can never afford to disrespect the game which has given so much to them. Otherwise the flashlights are followed by endless tunnel of darkness.