Pakistan batter Asif Ali announced his retirement from international cricket on Monday after 79 white-ball appearances in a career often marked by criticism of his carefree style.

The 33-year-old featured in 58 T20Is and 21 ODIs for Pakistan. His standout moment came at the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE, where he smashed 25 off seven balls to seal victory against Afghanistan.

Asif’s final appearance for Pakistan was at the 2023 Asian Games.

A middle-order power-hitter, he scored 577 runs in T20Is, with a highest of 41 not out against Zimbabwe in 2018. In ODIs, he made 382 runs, striking 21 sixes and 22 fours. His last ODI came against Australia in 2022.

“Wearing the Pakistan jersey has been the greatest honour of my life and serving my country on the cricket field has been my proudest chapter,” Asif wrote on X.

“To my family and friends, who stood with me in moments of joy and in the deepest of trials, including the loss of my beloved daughter during the World Cup, your strength carried me forward.”

Published on Sep 02, 2025