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:

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