Asif shocks Australia with six-wicket spell
Thirty three-year-old off spinner bags six wickets to put Pakistan on top
Pakistan’s debutant off spinner Bilal Asif, whose deadly six-wicket spell engineered Australia’s batting collapse, would have been working as electrician in Kuwait but for his decision to return to Pakistan in 2010 and make another attempt to get into the national team.
Australia, on the third day of the first Test at the Dubai International Stadium, were stunned by the 33-year-old spinner as he produced a spell of six for 36 from his 21.3 overs backed by accurate pacer Mohammad Abbas (4 for 29 from his 19 overs) to bowl them out for 202 in 83.3 overs and give Pakistan a first innings lead of 280 runs.
When Gulf News asked Bilal how he felt about his dream spell on debut, he remarked with a smile: “I am feeling very good. I tried to do well and stay focused on my basics.”
His face revealed the satisfaction from his hard work despite having to wait so long to get his big break and having to go to Kuwait to work with his father as an electrician.
Mentally tough
“Being a professional cricketer, you have to be tough mentally,” he said. “I always kept working hard. I didn’t think whether I would get a chance or not. It’s with Allah, you know, when you will get your chance and how you can grab them by performing. What I did was to work hard on my game. And that’s all what I was doing.”
Asif got his chance to make his one-day debut against Zimbabwe in 2015 but after that he wasn’t considered.
“I was out of the team since 2015,” he said. “I was at the NCA camp where I worked with Mushi bhai [Mushtaq Ahmad]. I need to really thank him for the work he did with me. I have been working with him in the last three years. I got the reward today. I think the credit goes to Mushi bhai who has always supported me on and off the field.”
It was a spectacular display from little known bowlers Asif and Abbas. They shared all 10 wickets between them to bowl Australia out. Refusing ■ to enforce the follow on, Pakistan lost the wickets of opener Mohammad Hafeez for 17 and nightwatchman Asif for a duck and Azhar Ali for 4 in the second innings to end the day at 45 for 3 and lead by 325 runs.
Australia lost 10 wickets for just 60 runs after openers Usman Khawaja and debutant Aaron Finch had put on 142 runs. Pakistan-born Khawaja top scored with 85 runs off 175 balls hitting eight boundaries. It was his best score in Asia going past his previous best of 26 runs scored against Sri Lanka at Galle in 2011. Finch scored 62 off 61 balls with five boundaries and a six.
Asif revealed that he wasn’t under pressure to perform.
“I wasn’t bothered about it,” he said. “My focus was only on my bowling and the performance of the team. Thanks to Allah that I am here today in front of you all and I am happy that I have done something very good for my country today.”
The man who has now placed Pakistan on the road to victory wasn’t convinced he would get a chance in this Test.
“I wasn’t sure until I saw my name in the final XI this time,” Asif said. “So I am happy that I got the chance... I always told myself that I would give my all whenever I get a chance to play.”