By Saj Sadiq (September 26, 2011)

 

Twenty two year old medium fast bowler Asad Ali has enjoyed yet another fantastic stint in English League cricket. The Faisalabad Wolves and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited swing bowler helped his team Wood Lane to the North Staffs & South Cheshire ECB Premier League title.

Ali who is yet to represent Pakistan took 130 wickets in total for Wood Lane. In an exclusive chat with PakPassion.net, Ali emphasized his readiness for the rigors and challenges of international cricket.

"I've been playing first class cricket since 2005 have steadily improved and learnt the art of bowling. In 58 matches I have more than 250 wickets and at a very good average too. It's hard work a lot of the time plying your trade on the predominantly flat tracks in Pakistan - you have to have a few tricks up your sleeve to do well. You simply cannot run in and bowl and expect the wicket to assist you. As a quick bowler in Pakistan you have to know how to seam, swing and reverse the ball and I can do all three."

Ali was called up to the training camp in Lahore earlier this year and impressed outgoing coach Waqar Younis with his attitude and ability to learn quickly.

"The camp was a great experience and I learnt a lot from it. Waqar was impressed with me and complimented my bowling regularly. He said I was a quick learner and after playing more, I could get better and better. He also said that my bowling area was very good and I had potential and that he would work with me later and help me to improve further. I was called up to the training camp ahead of the tour to Zimbabwe but due to my commitments in League cricket in England I could not attend the camp."

Ali also feels that he is ready to play international cricket and that it's good to see younger and inexperienced bowlers being given a chance for Pakistan.

"I was part of the Hong Kong Sixes squad last time around, but I feel that I am ready to play for Pakistan in other formats too and I am confident that I can perform well in international cricket. The experience of several seasons in English league cricket and my time for SNGPL has really helped me and I think that I am a much more complete bowler than I was. Last season in domestic cricket was just phenomenal and I had a very good season too in England. I feel that I can serve my country in any format they need me to, provided that the selectors give me the opportunity."

"It's really good to see young bowlers being given a chance by the selectors and I hope that my chance is not too far away. I know if given a chance I won't let anyone down."

Ali will line up for the Faisalabad Wolves in the upcoming Faysal Bank Twenty20 tournament and he's confident the Wolves can be amongst the challengers for the high profile competition due to commence in Karachi on Sunday.

"The Twenty20 tournament should be great. The players and fans really look forward to such tournaments with a packed stadium, a great atmosphere and some very competitive cricket. It's good that all the international players will be present in the tournament as this adds to the interest and intensity."

"I think Faisalabad can do very well. We have a tough group with holders Rawalpindi in our group, but we have a strong all round squad with experienced players like Misbah ul Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Salman and Shahid Nazir. In addition we have some very good youngsters and I'm really looking forward to what promises to be a fantastic tournament."