KARACHI Former England star batsman Kevin Pietersen has reiterated that Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif was the best bowler he has ever faced, while also stating that batsmen around the world were happy to see him get banned. Asif dismissed Pietersen twice in Tests and One-day Inte r na ti o na l s (ODIs), while he sent him packing him once in T w e n t y 2 0 Inte r na ti o na l s (T20Is) as well. The right-arm pacer, who has taken 106 Test wickets at 24.26, made a return to firstclass cricket in October, 2017 but has never featured in Pakistan colours again. Earlier in 2017, Pietersen also went in detail about what it was like facing Asif in the latter’s prime.“Just his ability to make a batsman feel like the ball was accelerating off the wicket in different directions,” he said while talking to cricket.com.au. “If I was in good form, he made sure I wasn’t in good form a couple of weeks later after playing him. If I wasn’t in good form, I knew I wasn’t in good form after playing him for a couple of weeks during a series.” South African batsman Hashim Amla has termed Mohammad Asif the best international fast bowler he ever faced in his career. In an interview with SuperSport, the Protean batting great was asked about the best international pacer he came across in his career. “Mohammad Asif is the best one [I faced], and [I know] he got banned for [spot] fixing but at that stage, he was the best fast bowler I’ve ever faced. He was not quick, 135kph maybe, but his accuracy was phenomenal,” Amla said.— News Desk
