Pakistan’s hard-hitting batter Asif Ali has officially retired from international cricket at the age of 33. He represented Pakistan in 21 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 58 T20 Internationals, often playing the role of a middle-order finisher.
Asif Ali is best remembered for a blistering seven-ball 25-run innings against Afghanistan during the 2021 T20 World Cup. His late fireworks helped Pakistan win a close match and advance to the semifinals.
In a heartfelt message on social media, Asif said,
“Wearing the Pakistan jersey has been the biggest honour of my life. Playing for my country is something I’ll always cherish.”
Although he is stepping away from the international scene Asif confirmed he will keep playing in domestic tournaments and T20 leagues around the world.
He began his T20I journey in April 2018 facing the West Indies shortly after helping Islamabad United win the Pakistan Super League (PSL). In that PSL final he smashed three consecutive sixes during a crucial moment of the chase earning attention as a power-hitter. Two months later he made his ODI debut.
Asif was seen as a new kind of player for Pakistan at a time when the team lacked big hitters. Selectors moved him quickly into the white-ball squads. However, he was often misused. In ODIs he came in too early at number six a spot not ideal for his style. In T20Is he got to face just over seven balls per match on average. This shows he often came in too late and wasn’t used effectively.
Despite these challenges, Asif created unforgettable moments. His most famous performance came in 2021 against Afghanistan, where he smashed four sixes in one over to seal a tense win. A year later, during the Asia Cup he hit a quick 16 off 8 balls to beat India helping Pakistan reach the final.
That Asia Cup knock turned out to be one of his last big contributions. He struggled in the 2022 T20 World Cup playing a limited role even as Pakistan reached the final. Inconsistent form and the rise of younger hitters pushed him out of the side.
His final major appearance for Pakistan came at the MCG against India in that World Cup. Later, Asif Ali featured in a few matches during the 2023 Asian Games with a second-string team.