Mohammad Asif

Mohammad Asif is a former Pakistani cricketer who represented the national team between 2005 and 2010. He was a right-hand medium fast bowler known for his ability to swing the ball in both directions.

Early life and education

Asif was born on 20 December 1982, in the small farming village of Machikay near Sheikhupura. He grew up in a Gujjar family within Pakistan's central Punjab province. His father, Hasan Deen, worked as a farmer. Because he preferred his sons to join the family business of animal breeding and agriculture, Hasan Deen initially opposed the decision of Asif to pursue professional cricket.

Career

After performing well in domestic Pakistani cricket, Asif entered the national Test squad and made his debut against Australia in January 2005. He bowled 18 overs during that match without taking a wicket. He returned to the team in January 2006 for a home series against India. During the third Test in Karachi, he took 4 for 78 in the first innings and claimed three clean bowled wickets in the second innings—including Sachin Tendulkar—to secure a victory for Pakistan.

Asif achieved a career-best 11 for 71 during a 2nd Test against Sri Lanka. He also played for Leicestershire, where he took 25 wickets in 7 first-class games. In August 2007, he joined the Indian Premier League after being drafted by the Delhi Daredevils for US$650,000. He became the first bowler to bowl a maiden over in Twenty20 cricket.

His career faced several significant controversies and legal issues. In 2006, he tested positive for the anabolic steroid Nandrolone, but an appeal later overturned his ban. He was detained in Dubai in 2008 on suspicion of possessing drugs and subsequently tested positive for a banned substance during the Indian Premier League. In August 2010, the News of the World accused him of bowling deliberate no-balls for money from a betting syndicate.

A three-man tribunal appointed by the ICC issued a verdict on 5 February 2011, banning him for 7 years. This ban included 2 suspended years if he committed no further offences. In November 2011, Asif was convicted of conspiracy charges relating to spot-fixing alongside Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir. He received a one-year prison sentence on 3 November 2011 for his role in the scandal. The ICC eventually suspended these orders on 19 August 2015, allowing him to play all formats starting 2 September 2015. He returned to competitive cricket in October 2016 while representing the Water and Power Development Authority.

Personal life

Reports surfaced that Asif married actress Veena Malik in a private London ceremony on 28 May 2009, though this was later denied. In April 2010, Malik filed a complaint alleging that Asif threatened her over a loan of approximately Rs 14 million. Asif announced his engagement to Sania Asif in Lahore on 2 March 2010. The couple married on 1 October 2010, in a ceremony attended by Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq.

In December 2018, Asif, his wife, and their two children were involved in a road accident in Lahore. They all sustained injuries during the event.

Awards and recognition

Asif was ranked as the second leading Test bowler in the world in 2010, trailing only South Africa's Dale Steyn. In 2007, he earned a selection in the ICC World Test XI. His performance against South Africa in 2007 helped him reach eighth in the LG ICC Test player rankings after only 9 appearances. This achievement equalled the record for the fewest matches taken by a Pakistan bowler to enter the top 10.