Asif Ali eyes national team comeback with strong performance at Champions Cup

Faisalabad: Pakistan’s power-hitting cricketer Asif Ali is aiming to make a comeback to the national team with a strong performance in the ongoing Champions Cup.

In an interview with Geo News, Asif Ali shared his determination to take full advantage of the local tournament, saying he is ready to perform well and push for his return to the national team.

Asif, known for his aggressive batting style, said he feels most comfortable batting at number 4. He explained that he was successful in that position before his international debut in 2018, but moving to number 6 in the national team was a big adjustment.

“The switch from number 4 to number 6 is not easy,” Asif said. “Training specifically for your batting position is important in international cricket. When you’re used to batting higher in domestic cricket, dropping to a lower spot internationally can be tough.”

He also mentioned that the Champions Cup is helping players get used to roles they might have in the national team.

Talking about his recent half-century against the Markhors in the Champions Cup, Asif said competition for spots in the Pakistan squad is fierce. While happy with his own performance, he admitted that winning the match would have felt better. “The pitch becomes more favorable for bowlers later in the game, making it harder for batsmen,” he explained.

“There was moisture early on, which is why the Dolphins’ management chose to field first. If they had asked me, I would have advised them not to go with that decision and to bat first instead,” he added.