Asad sizzles as Karachi Whites whisk into National T20 final

KARACHI: Asad Shafiq has proved his credentials as a world-class Test batsman. Now it seems he has set himself on a mission to underline the fact that he can excel in the faster formats as well.

A day after receiving high praise from Pakistan’s head coach Mickey Arthur, who compared him with Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar, Asad sizzled in a format which many previously believed he wasn’t fit for, leading Karachi Whites to an emphatic eight-wicket triumph in a semi-final of the National T20 Cup in Multan.

Asad, who has been labelled by many a national selector as a batsman fit for only Tests, hammered ten fours and hoisted three towering sixers in his unbeaten 92 that came off just 55 balls. In the process, he shepherded Karachi Whites in their run-chase of 179 against Peshawar. In the final, they will meet the winners of the other semi-final featuring Karachi Blues and Lahore which concluded late on Thursday night.

Just a day before the semi-final against Peshawar, Arthur heaped praise on Asad calling him Pakistan’s best batsman and adding that he reminds him of Tendulkar.

“Technically, Asad Shafiq is our best batsman,” Arthur said in an interview.

“When he gets forward he is sideways on. Look at him: short, balanced, punches well off the front foot, cuts exceptionally well.

“At times I could almost visualise Sachin Tendulkar. That is high praise, and I have told him that.”

Asad, 30, posted a crucial century in the fourth Test against England at The Oval, a result that secured the tourists a 2-2 draw and helped them to climb to the top of ICC’s rankings for the first time.

While Asad is an obvious choice for the five-day format, he is not deemed fit for limited-overs cricket. Despite his prolific batting, he has not been considered for Twenty20 Internationals since playing his tenth T20I game back in 2012 against England in Abu Dhabi. He was also overlooked for the five-match ODI series against England despite being a big success in the preceding four-Test series.

But things could change after Asad’s exploits in the National T20 Cup’s pre-finals.

He was in full swing and score boundaries at will. In the end, Peshawar’s bowling attack that included internationals Anwar Ali and Imran Khan was completely blunted by Asad’s prowess. Karachi won the game with ten balls to spare.

Asad played the lead role in a match-winning second-wicket stand of 141 with opener Zain Abbas, who hit a superb 59 off 45 balls that was punctuated by nine hits to the fence.

Earlier, Peshawar piled up a decent score of 178 for 7 with Iftikhar Ahmed top-scoring with an unbeaten 78 off 53 balls. He hit three sixes and seven fours. Anwar Ali chipped in with 24 off 13 in a rear guard action after opener Israrullah (20 off 19) and Fakhar Zaman (23 off 13) had helped Iftikhar in taking Peshawar to what at that time appeared to be a fighting total. Left-arm spinner Faraz Ahmed was the pick of Karachi bowlers with 2-33.