Asif Ali did an MS Dhoni in more ways than one in Pakistan’s Super 12, Group 2 match against Afghanistan in Dubai on Friday. Despite coming in to bat at a difficult situation when the required rate was already over 10, he kept his composure, even denied a single to back himself – Dhoni traits – to clear the ropes and did it not once but four times in the 19th over to seal Pakistan’s five-wicket win. And after hitting the winning runs with a six, something which Dhoni has done multiple times in his career, Asif Ali brought out the gun-shot celebration. Yes, the same gun-shot celebration, which Dhoni had done way back in 2005 after reaching his century against Sri Lanka in Jaipur.
Asif Ali, who has already hit 7 sixes in this World Cup in just two innings, scored a swashbuckling 25 off 7 deliveries, which included four sixes against Afghanistan medium pacer Karim Janat in the 19th over when Pakistan needed 24 to win in 12 balls.
“He (Asif Ali) is known for this. He has played many innings at the PSL (Pakistan Super League). So I was very confident he’d get us out of any trouble we find ourselves in,” Pakistan captain Babar Azam said after his team scored a hat-trick of wins to stay on top in group 2 points table. “I was confident pre-tournament itself that he would deliver when needed.”
Reacting to his blazing innings, which came a couple of days after his important knock in a chase against New Zealand, Asif said, he backs himself to clear the ropes.
“Yes, I knew that there was a single, but I had confidence that I will hit sixes and score the needed runs,” Asif said.
“They did not bowl towards the shorter boundaries but I hit him towards the longer side.”
Asif said he had been practising batting under such pressure. “My job is to hit sixes, so I practise in scenarios based on situations, needing to hit sixes in the last five overs type situations,” he said.
