Twitter Reactions: Asif Ali’s performance against England leads to call for inclusion in World Cup squad

The Pakistan Cricket Board announced their 15-man squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2019 and there was quite a clamor after Mohammad Amir’s name was missing from the list. Given the talent Amir possesses and the impact he has had since his return to cricket in 2015, it was natural to get such a reaction. However, one more exclusion also turned heads and that was of hard-hitting Asif Ali, who was seen as the finisher Pakistan required.

Asif Ali has played 13 ODIs and 20 T20Is and scored 251 and 280 runs respectively. Now, these numbers might not sound impressive, but he has gotten those runs at a strike rate of 132.80 and 137.25 respectively and here is where his importance comes to the fore. He has more sixes than fours in his short international career so far and his innings of 51 runs in 36 balls against England in the second ODI in Southampton just underlined the fact that he has the ability to get the game to move on something that Men in Green are lacking in their middle order.

Twitter clamors for the inclusion of Asif Ali in Pakistani WC squad

Asif’s four sixes and two fours were one of the reasons why Pakistan managed to take the fight of chasing 373 runs to the last over, apart from the brilliant century by Fakhar Zaman at the top. “Asif played really well off the back of that really good innings from Fakhar, who was outstanding today. It was disappointing not to get over the line,” Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.

The coach also admitted that they are lacking a bit of power hitting in the middle order and Ali had the goods to do it and he still had chances to make it into the final squad for the World Cup, which will be named on or before May 23.

Twitter was filled with praises and pleaded Pakistan team management to include Asif into the World Cup squad and despite his performances, it remains to be seen which player might be dropped to make way for him. However, he has turned heads of the selectors which his amazing innings here.

Here are some of the tweets:

We need Asif Ali in the World Cup 💥#CWC19

— Noman Rafique 🇵🇰 (@NomanRafique04) May 12, 2019

Any one can be removed to fit in asif Ali who plays selfless cricket for the team and not for his personal average https://t.co/NCQrRCwGcn

— Mohamed Thoufeeq (@Thoufee_fir) May 12, 2019

Asif Ali should replace Haris and Amir should be in for Faheem Ashraf.. #ENGvPAK

— WAjAhAt (@wajahat0789) May 12, 2019

Asif Ali should be incleded in final 15 of WC Squad@AasifAli2018 #AsifAliWC2019

— Ammar BUTT (My PM is a Puppet) (@ButtMcom) May 12, 2019

OPEN WITH BABAR AND FAKHAR BRING SARFRAZ ON NO.3 AND ADD ASIF ALI AT 6.#AsifAli #PakvsEng #FakharZaman

— Muhammad Asad (@asad4284) May 12, 2019

Hope Selectors saw that Asif Ali is required whatsoever for the world cup

— Hassan Ali Khan (@HassanAliKkhan) May 12, 2019

Wait for Eng series then take a call on Asif Ali inclusion for CWC19

— Muhammad Adeel (@MAdeel2296) May 12, 2019

We are seeing why Asif Ali has to be in Pakistan's 15-man World Cup squad. He gives the Pakistan batting line-up the X-factor and is different to the other batsmen in the squad#CWC19 #ENGvPAK

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) May 11, 2019

ASIF ALI should be in Pakistan Squad for #CWC19

— Abdul Ghaffar (@GhaffarDawnNews) May 11, 2019

Asif Ali on his way to World Cup!

— Shahid Hashmi (@hashmi_shahid) May 11, 2019

In his 13-match ODI career so far, Asif Ali strikes at 68.3 in the middle overs, but his strike rate jumps to a considerable higher 169.9 at the death. #ENGvPAK

— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) May 11, 2019

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