KARACHI: Hyderabad Kingsmen’s Asif Mehmood refused to answer when asked about a potential return to the national setup following a standout performance in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 against Islamabad United on Sunday.
The Hyderabad Kingsmen pacer starred in his side’s victory over Islamabad United at the National Bank Stadium, producing a match-winning spell of four wickets in just two overs on debut.
However, it was his post-match interaction that drew as much attention as his performance.
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During an on-field interview with presenter Zainab Abbas and former Pakistan women’s captain Sana Mir, Mehmood was asked whether his recent form could pave the way for a return to Pakistan colours, having previously represented the country at the Under-19 level.
“We have seen that you have played for Pakistan at Under-19 level. Can we expect you to come back to us?” Abbas asked.
Mehmood, however, chose not to engage with the speculation, replying simply: “No answer.”
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Sana Mir later described the response as a “sensible” one, drawing parallels with a similar moment involving Usman Khan during PSL 9.
Usman, who was then playing as an overseas player, had also avoided directly addressing questions about his international future before eventually earning a call-up to Pakistan’s T20I side after a prolific season.
Mehmood’s journey has followed a somewhat similar path. The 30-year-old, who has since moved to the United States, first came into the spotlight during Pakistan’s Under-19 tour of Kenya in 2014, where he delivered a four-wicket haul in an ODI to underline his potential.