Pakistan batter Asif Ali has announced his retirement from international cricket, confirming the news via social media on September 01.
Making his debut in 2018, Ali has played 21 ODIs and 58 T20Is for Pakistan, scoring 959 runs across white ball formats.
Asif Ali secured a comfortable place in Pakistan’s middle order, boasting a strike rate of 133.87 in T20Is and 121.65 in ODIs.
His memorable performance comes at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 against Afghanistan, where he produced a stunning cameo.
Pakistan needed 24 runs of 12 deliveries, where Ali hammered four sixes in the penultimate over off Karim Janat, racing to 25 from just 7 deliveries and sealing the chase with an over to spare, a knock that proved pivotal role in Pakistan’s advancement to semi finals.
A year later, Ali showcased his finishing prowess once again in the Asia Cup, blasting an 8-ball 16 in the chase against India to help Pakistan overhaul a target of 182 in the final over.
“Wearing the Pakistan jersey has been the greatest honour of my life and serving my country on the cricket field has been my proudest chapter,” he said in a social media post.
Asif confirmed that he will continue to play domestic cricket and in franchise leagues around the world.
Asif made his T20I debut against West Indies in April 2018 after winning PSL title with Islamabad united, hitting three successive sixes at a crucial point in the chase in the final.
Asif was fast-tracked into both white-ball sides. However, his own game was at times misunderstood by Pakistan’s selection and management team.
“I retire with immense gratitude, and will continue to share my passion for the game by playing domestic and league cricket worldwide,” Asif said.
Asif played in the ICC T20I World Cups in 2021 and 2022 and also part of the ACC T20I Asia Cup in 2022.
His last appearance for Pakistan comes during India at the MCG that year, before making a smattering of appearances for a second-string Pakistan side in 2023 Asian Games.
