“The way Asif trapped the Indian team…I have never seen a magician like him”, When Shoaib Akhtar termed Mohammad Asif as the greatest Pakistani fast bowler

The fact that the most anticipated matchup between India and Pakistan only happens once every blue moon is unfortunate.

Fans and players on both sides have more in common than they do contrast, making this matchup as certain a blockbuster as it has ever been. Around fifteen years ago, when things were still relatively calm and easily arranged bilateral series tours, these bitter rivals faced off in a game of this kind.

Fans and players on both sides still reminisce about the historic India visit to Pakistan in 2005/06 to this day, with certain memories being worth cherishing and others being best left in the past.

During the third Test match in Karachi of the three-match series, Mohammad Asif castled the stumps of India’s VVS Laxman twice with a handful of fantastic deliveries.

What did Shoaib Akhtar say about Mohammad Asif?

During the aforementioned Karachi Test, legendary bowler Shoaib Akhtar became the ultimate devotee of Mohammad Asif after seeing the latter’s skill in action against the Indian batters

“The way Asif trapped the Indian team…I have never seen a magician like him. He made me look like a very ordinary fast bowler,” Akhtar once said.

Asif’s extraordinary assurance is what really stood out in his dismissals. After dismissing Laxman in the first innings with an inswinger that nipped sharply back in, Akhtar felt certain he could get rid of him in the same fashion in the second.

Later in the game, during the second innings, the ball did not swing as much but nevertheless nipped back into Laxman quickly, uprooting his middle stump and leaving Akhtar totally dumbfounded.

Later, when he was talking to PTV Sports, Akhtar praised Asif again and said, “The best fast bowler Pakistan has ever had. He was a magician, yaar. Ab usko batsman ko aage bhi lana hai, usko expose bhi karna hai, usko ganda bhi karna hai, aur uske dande pe bhi ball marna hai (The best fast bowler Pakistan has ever produced. He did magic tricks. He would move the batsman forward, expose him, make him look bad, and then try to knock him out of the game.)”