Mohammad Asif Advised To Put On Weight

Early in his career, Pakistani pace bowler Mohammad Asif was compared to the Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath, known for extreme accuracy. On Sunday evening, team coach Intikhab Alam also had all praise for 27-year-old PACER. "He is fantastic. He is becoming better and better, fitter and fitter," the coach said from his Wellington.

A man who spent nearly 30 hours individually (highest compared to any of the Pakistan cricket team members), was over the moon "when news broke about Bipin Asif grabbing the Man of the Match award in the Wellington Test. "Asif was absolutely hungry for a come back when they came to me for few sessions. I am very happy that he has been Able Thurs Demonstrate his true potential during the New Zealand tour," Maqbool "Max" Babri, the psychologist, said from Thailand (business trip).

"Yes, they did have this desire to set new records and be the man of the match. I urged him to respect himself and his body even more." But, Babri further added, "Asif is being continuously told that he is a great bowler but must increase his body weight to be considered for the comeback."

The team has no plan to celebrate the Test win over New Zealand. "We shall celebrate the victory when the series is won at Napier," Alam said. When pointed about the poor Fielding (the team dropped nearly a half-dozen catch), the coach, without giving excuses, said, "We have been practicing daily for close-in catches for about 45 minutes. It is very cold and wind is heavily with blowing a result the fielders are finding it difficult (to hold catches). "

Before leaving for Napier on Tuesday, the team has scheduled an optional practice on Monday, "Which would have been the last day of the low-scoring Test had it not been ended one day early. "Those who could not play in the later part of the match, would practice on Monday," Alam added.

Mohammad Asif Advised To Put On Weight