Mohammad Asif Archives

AB de Villiers names THIS Pakistani player in his Top Five cricketers’ list

Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has named former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif among the top five cricketers he faced during his international career.

During a recent podcast appearance, the former South African captain was asked to reveal the top five best cricketers he played with or against during his career.

De Villiers listed his compatriot Jacques Kallis, England’s Andrew Flintoff, Australia’s Shane Warne, India’s Sachin Tendulkar, and Asif as the players who made the deepest impression on him during his career.

Surprisingly, the list did not include his long-time teammate and close friend, Virat Kohli, from the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

When reminded by England spinner Adil Rashid about not including Kohli, de Villiers admitted the omission but explained why Tendulkar edged out India’s modern-day great.

“Kallis, Flintoff, Mohammad Asif, Warne, and Sachin with the crowds,” he said.

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“The way he (Sachin) was received when he walked out to bat, everything would come to a standstill. Beautiful to watch him bat. Virat, sorry, Sachin. That’s why such questions are so tough to answer.”

The former Proteas batter, regarded as one of the most innovative players of his era, also elaborated on why these names stood out.

“Kallis is probably the greatest all-rounder, if not the greatest cricketer of all time. Asif was the best seamer I ever faced,” he added.

“Warne, I loved playing against him, not because he was easy but because of his presence, the floppy hat, zinc cream, the blonde hair, the aura.

“Flintoff was a big-match guy, and that yorker to Kallis at Edgbaston is still the best I’ve ever seen.”

AB De Villiers himself is celebrated as one of the finest batsmen of modern cricket, having scored over 20,000 international runs across formats at remarkable averages, 50.66 in 114 Tests and 53.50 in 228 ODIs.

READ: Marcus Stoinis returns as Australia announce squad for New Zealand T20Is

WATCH: AB de Villiers includes one Pakistan cricketer in all-time World XI

Former South Africa stalwart AB de Villiers has named former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif in his all-time World XI, revealed on the sidelines of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025.

Currently in England for the World Championship of Legends, where he represents the South African champions, De Villiers unveiled his all-time playing XI, which features both current and former players.

The 41-year-old started with an opening pair of compatriot Greame Smith and former Australia explosive batter Matthew Hayden.

He placed Australia legend Ricky Ponting at the crucial No. 03 spot and India batting icon Virat Kohli on the No. 04 position. Furthermore, he picked two more batters from the fabulous four, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson, at No 05 and 06, respectively.

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At No. 07, he picked India’s World Cup-winning captain MS Dhoni as a wicket-keeper.

In the bowling lineup, he started with former Australia left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson. Notably, he selected Pakistan’s Mohammad Asif, known for his swing bowling.

De Villiers faced Mohammad Asif, on couple of occasions and praise him for his outstanding bowling. The righ-arm pacer played for Pakistan in 23 Tests, 38 ODIs, and 11 T20Is

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Lastly, he included the legendary spin duo of Muttiah Muralitharan and late Shane Warne, with Glenn McGrath interestingly selected as a 12th man.

A day earlier, the batting maestro demonstrated his class against India Champions, propelling South Africa Champions to a comprehensive 88-run victory.

Put into bat first, South Africa posted an imposing total of 208 runs, thanks to AB de Villiers’ 61 off 31 balls, striking three fours and four maximums.

In pursuit of the target, India Champions could only manage to score 111-9 in 18.2 overs in a rain-affected game, eventually losing the fixture according to the Duckworth-Lewis (DLS) method.

AB De Villiers World XI

Graeme Smith, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, MS Dhoni, Mitchell Johnson, Mohammad Asif, Muttiah Muralitharan, and Shane Warne.

READ: Hashim Amla picks his top three batting icons of all time

Pakistan’s Mohammad Asif, Hasnain Akhtar storm into World Snooker semi-finals

MANAMA: Pakistan’s Mohammad Asif and Hasnain Akhtar marched into the semi-finals of the IBSF World Snooker Championship 2025 on Thursday, continuing the country’s impressive run in Bahrain.

Competing in the Masters category, Asif looked in sublime touch as he outclassed Bahrain’s Habib Sabah 4-0 in the quarter-final.

The seasoned cueist dominated proceedings from the outset, registering identical breaks of 68 in two of the frames and conceding just eight points in three of them.

Earlier in the day, Mohammad Asif had battled past UAE’s experienced Mohamed Shehab 4-2 in the pre-quarters.

After going two frames down, he rallied back with a stunning 80-point break in the fourth frame and held his nerve in the next two to seal the win.

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Asif is scheduled to play his semi-final later tonight at 10:00 PM local time.

Meanwhile, in the U17 category, Pakistan’s young cueist Hasnain Akhtar continued to make headlines.

The teenager defeated Poland’s Krzysztof Czapnik 3-1 in the quarter-final after registering a straight-frame win over Oman’s Mutasim Al Saadi in the previous round.

After dropping the opening frame against the Polish cueist, Hasnain bounced back with confidence, firing a 46-point break in the second frame and a match-high 60-point contribution in the third to take control of the contest.

Hasnain’s semi-final will take place today at 6:00 PM.

READ: Top-order batter included in Pakistan Champions’ WCL 2025 squad

Pakistan’s Asif loses to Malaysia’s Thor in Asian 6-Red Championship semi-final

COLOMBO: Pakistan’s experienced cueist Mohammad Asif saw his impressive run at the Asian 6-Red Ball Snooker Championship come to an end on Wednesday after a semi-final defeat against Malaysia’s Thor Chuan Leong.

Asif, a two-time IBSF World Champion, was beaten 5-2 in the last-four clash as Thor maintained control with a composed and clinical display to book his place in the final.

With Asif’s exit, Pakistan’s campaign in the tournament officially came to a close, as the veteran had been the country’s last remaining hope following earlier exits by Mohammad Sajjad and Awais Munir in the pre-quarterfinals.

Sajjad, a former world number two, suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat at the hands of Singapore’s Sunny Wang, while Awais Munir lost 5-3 to Hong Kong’s Ming Wa Man.

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Despite the semi-final loss, Asif’s overall campaign remained noteworthy. He began his tournament with a 4-1 win over Cambodia’s Neang Tola in the group stage, registering frame scores of 37-17, 47-0, 9-59, 44-0, and 39-9.

He then blanked Oman’s Abdullah Al Raisi 4-0 to cruise into the knockouts, before once again getting the better of Neang Tola, this time with a 5-1 victory in the pre-quarters.

In the quarter-final, Mohammad Asif got past Malaysia’s Lim Kok Leong with a hard-fought 5-3 win to book his place in the semis.

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Mohammad Asif storms into Asian 6-Red Snooker Championship semi-final

COLOMBO: Pakistan’s season campaigner Mohammad Asif stormed into the semi-finals of the Asian 6-Red Snooker Championship with an emphatic 5-3 victory over Malaysia’s Lim Kok Leong on Tuesday.

The two-time IBSF World Champion remained dominant throughout the quarterfinal. In the opening set, Asif outplayed Lim Kok with a 67-point break.

Lim Kok replied with resilience in the second frame, but Mohammad Asif held firm, leading with a 43-21 in the second set.

The Malaysian counterpart responded with great anticipation in the third frame; however, the Pakistani cueist clinched the set and led 3-0.

Leong showcased his best performance in the crucial must-win frame, beating Asif 68-0. However, he was unable to extend the match to a deciding frame, as Asif clinched the eighth frame 41-21, ultimately achieving a decisive 5-3 victory.

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Mohammad Asif will now face Malaysia’s Thor Chuan Leon in the semi-final tomorrow.

Earlier, Pakistan’s most successful cueist, with five international accolades, Asif, defeated Cambodia’s Neang Tola 5-1.

The two-time IBSF world champion shook off a sluggish start after dropping the first frame 27-16 but bounced back in clinical fashion, winning five frames on the trot to seal the pre-quarterfinal with ease.

The frame-wise scores were: 16-27, 48-25, 35-32, 52-9, 43-35, and 40-10.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s other cueists faltered in the knockout stage. Awais Munir lost 5-3 to Hong Kong’s Ming Wa Man, while former IBSF World No.2 Mohammad Sajjad was blanked 5-0 by Singapore’s Sunny Wang.

Notably, Asif launched his Asian 6-Red Ball Championship campaign with a decisive 4-1 victory, also against Cambodia’s Neang Tola, during the group stage.

It is worth noting that the seasoned cueist lifted the 3rd SAARC Snooker Championship title earlier this year in Colombo, where he didn’t drop a single frame in the final against Sri Lanka’s Thaha Irshath

READ: Mohammad Asif qualifies for Asian 6-Red Championship quarter-final

Mohammad Asif qualifies for Asian 6-Red Championship quarter-final

COLOMBO: Pakistan’s veteran cueist Mohammad Asif stormed into the quarterfinals of the Asian 6-Red Ball Championship with a dominant 5-1 win over Cambodia’s Neang Tola here on Tuesday.

The frame-wise scores were: 16-27, 48-25, 35-32, 52-9, 43-35, and 40-10.

Mohammad Asif, who has looked in supreme touch throughout the tournament, will now take on Malaysia’s Lim Kok Leong in the quarterfinals later today.

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Notably, Asif launched his Asian 6-Red Ball Championship campaign with a decisive 4-1 victory, also against Cambodia’s Neang Tola, during the group stage.

The match showcased his remarkable skill, with frame scores that illustrated his dominance: he secured wins of 37-17, 47-0, 9-59, 44-0, and 39-9, each displaying a blend of precision and strategy.

Following this impressive opening, Asif continued his strong performance by advancing to the knockout stages after a commanding 4-0 triumph over Oman’s Abdullah Al Raisi.

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Mohammad Asif offers valuable advice to Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf

Pakistan’s former pacer Mohammad Asif has offered a piece of advice for the fast bowling duo of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf.

While speaking on a private TV channel, Asif stated that Shaheen was not bowling from the same release point he had used when he first joined the team.

“Shaheen is not bowling from the same release point he used when he first joined the team,” he said.

He emphasized that small mistakes could impede a bowler’s journey to becoming a leading wicket-taker.

“Small mistakes can hinder a bowler’s path to becoming a leading wicket-taker,” he added.

He highlighted Shaheen’s inability to bowl inswing deliveries to right-hand batters, suggesting that it can make it challenging for him to maintain a long career.

“If you cannot swing the ball back in, it can become difficult to sustain a long career,” he observed.

Mohammad Asif pointed out that many successful left-arm bowlers have had lethal inswing and enjoyed lengthy careers.

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“Shaheen once possessed this ability, but he seems to have lost it over time,” Asif said.

Regarding his ability to bowl inswinging deliveries, Asif said he should return to his basics.

“Shaheen should focus on his basics, and coaches should guide him in this process,” he stated.

The pacer also addressed Haris Rauf’s bowling form and the problems with his line and length.

“Haris’s problem is that he bowls short of length, which does not allow the ball to swing effectively,” he observed.

Asif recommended that Haris should change his line and length, explaining that despite bowling at very good speed, his current strategy does not challenge batters.

“Haris should change his line and length. His current line and length does not challenge batters.”

“No matter, if you bowl at 160 kph without swing, batters will take you apart, ” he concluded.

For the unversed, Pakistan’s pace bowling trio of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah have struggled recently.

The above-mentioned fast bowlers could not perform according to the expectations in the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy 2025, resulting in the Men in Green’s early exit from the tournament.

READ: PCB dismisses reports about Champions Trophy 2025 financial loss

Former pacer warns about decline of fast bowling in Pakistan

Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif has raised serious concerns about the future of fast bowlers in the country.

According to him, if the national team continues to rely on spinners to win matches at home, fast bowlers could soon become a thing of the past.

Asif made these remarks during a recent event in the United States of America (USA), where he caught up with fellow fast-bowling legend Shoaib Akhtar.

The two shared a warm embrace, but it was Asif’s emotional remarks that really grabbed attention. A clip of his conversation with a media outlet has since gone viral on social media.

During the same event, the former pacer didn’t hold back and questioned the strategy to make spin-friendly pitches in home Test matches.

“If the national team begins winning matches at home using spinners, fast bowlers will eventually disappear,” said Mohammad Asif.

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Previously, Pakistan’s interim head coach Aqib Javed defended the formula of using spin-friendly pitches in the home series after the first Test against the West Indies.

Pakistan bowled just one over of pace in the first Test, which resulted in criticism over the strategy to make spin-friendly pitches.

“I’ve been hearing a lot, and people are commenting on where our Test cricket is heading,” said Aqib during a press conference.

“Every country prepares pitches according to their advantage to win matches. I don’t understand the problem with spin-friendly wickets.

“If pace bowlers take wickets, people say cricket is progressing, but if spinners take wickets, they say cricket is going backwards. I don’t understand this.”

READ: Pakistan name squad for tri-nation series, Champions Trophy 2025

Asif defeats Sri Lanka’s Irshath to clinch SAARC Snooker Championship

COLOMBO: Pakistan’s seasoned cueist Mohammad Asif proved his class once again, defeating Sri Lanka’s Thaha Irshath in a flawless final to win the 3rd SAARC Snooker Championship at the Moors Sports Club here on Friday.

The reigning world champion showcased his unmatched skillset in the one-sided affair, winning the match in straight frames.

With his victory, Mohammad Asif has now etched his name as the second Pakistani to claim the SAARC Snooker title, joining Asjad Iqbal, who won the inaugural edition in 2019.

Asif got off to a flying start, comfortably taking the first frame with a 67-point break to stamp his dominance early on.

The second frame, however, was where Irshath showed glimpses of resistance. At one stage, the Sri Lankan cueist seemed to have control of the frame, but a crucial error on the pink allowed Asif to bounce back and seal the frame 73-46.

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The third frame started with a rare slip from Asif, as a scratch on his initial break gave Irshath an early lead.

However, the Sri Lankan’s inability to capitalize on the opportunity proved costly. Asif swiftly turned the tables with a 58-point clearance, extinguishing any hopes of a comeback.

By the fourth frame, Asif had all the momentum and showed no mercy. With a spectacular 50-point break, he outclassed Irshath 109-6.

The final frame was the icing on the cake for Asif, as he delivered a crushing 74-0 win to complete the rout and lift the title in style.

It was a dominant tournament for Mohammad Asif, who remained unbeaten throughout. His impressive campaign included a hard-fought semi-final victory over fellow Pakistani Muhammad Naseem Akhtar, who had also been undefeated until their encounter.

READ: Salman Ali Agha optimistic about Saim Ayub’s recovery for Champions Trophy 2025

PM Shehbaz Sharif congratulates Asif for World Snooker Championship victory

The Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif has extended his heartfelt congratulations to Mohammad Asif for winning the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) World Snooker Championship 2024.

Asif clinched his third IBSF World Snooker Championship 2024 title by defeating Iran’s Ali Gharahgozlou with a score of 5-3 in Doha, Qatar.

Asif has previously won the coveted championship in 2012 and 2019. Moreover, he has also clinched two team titles, which makes him the most decorated cueist in the history of Pakistan with five world titles.

For the unversed, the 42-year-old player made his entrance into the tournament as a qualifier, having received a nomination from the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) to participate as a wild card entrant.

However, he seized the opportunity with remarkable determination, delivering breathtaking performances which earned him qualification for the final against Gharahgozlou.

His extraordinary accomplishment garnered accolades from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who commended Asif for his exceptional efforts that brought honour and pride to the nation.

“Mohammad Asif has made the nation proud by clinching the World Snooker Championship title for the third time,” the prime minister said, according to a PM Office statement. “Asif’s family members and coach also deserve felicitation.”

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Additionally, Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that the government is committed to prioritizing the establishment of top-notch facilities for sportsmen, ensuring they have the resources needed to excel and compete effectively on the global stage.

During the final against Gharahgozlou, Asif dominated the opening frame with a commanding score of 70-25 with an impressive display of skill. However, Gharahgozlou quickly found his rhythm in the second frame, levelling the contest with a resounding victory of 87-7.

Undeterred, Asif regained his momentum in the third frame, showcasing his talent by winning decisively at 82-8.

The Pakistani cueist then delivered a breathtaking performance in the fourth frame, executing a flawless 106 clearance break, which was his sixth-century break of the tournament.

Asif continued to exhibit his prowess in the fifth frame, further solidifying his advantage with a convincing 82-12 win, bringing his lead to a solid 4-1.

Although Gharahgozlou fought back valiantly, claiming victories in both the sixth and seventh frames, Asif proved too strong. He sealed his victory in the eighth frame with a stellar performance, executing a remarkable 93-point break.

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