Shoaib Malik stopped Bilal Asif from quitting cricket ten years ago

The 33-year-old debutant Bilal Asif rocked Australia with a six-wicket haul in the ongoing first Test in Dubai. They were sitting pretty at 142/0 in the first innings before the offie turned things around dramatically with the figures of 6/36. However, the credit for the same should go to Shoaib Malik who advised the cricketer to not quit the game ten years ago and fight hard to earn a place in the national side.

Mohammad Abbas broke the frustrating opening stand and then the spinners wrecked havoc in the opposition camp. The visitors lost all their 10 wickets for 60 runs in a matter of close to 24 overs. Asif picked crucial wickets of Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh along with a couple of debutants before cleaning up the tail quite masterfully. He hardly bowled a bad delivery and didn’t let the batters off the hook at any stage and reaped rewards with Australia’s shaky middle-order.

Was going to work as an electrician

Bilal Asif made his international debut back in 2015 but was sidelined after playing only three ODIs within a month’s span. Way before his debut, back in 2008, the Sialkot-born cricketer was set to quit cricket and join his father as an electrician in Kuwait according to Pak Passion.

However, the veteran now, Shoaib Malik knew that the youngster was extremely talented and suggested to work harder in order to make it to the national team. Asif obliged then and ten years down the line, Bilal has bowled the match-winning spell for his country and looked really happy during the third day’s play in Dubai.

Shadab Khan’s injury paved the way for his inclusion in the team and the off-spinner didn’t disappoint the team management. Yasir Shah was struggling on his comeback and it was important for someone to put his hand up. Bilal has proved that he has got the potential and at the age of 33, he would be aiming to play for his country for the next few years now.

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