When he made his debut against Australia at Sydney in January 2005, little suggested that Pakistan's long tradition of happening upon blitzing fast bowlers would continue. Bob Woolmer, then Pakistan coach, kept faith, calling Asif the most improved player in the country in late 2005. By taking ten wickets in a warm-up game against England, he proved Woolmer right. He made an impressive ODI debut one day after his 23rd birthday, dismissing Marcus Trescothick with his third ball and ending with 2 for 14 off seven incisive overs. Tall, lean and possessed of a little more muscle than on his debut, Asif initially generated pace a medium-pacer would aspire to and a tearaway would loosen up with, around mid to late 80mph. He has mind-numbing control over his bowling, a terrifically sharp bowling brain, stamina as well as the useful ability to seam the ball both ways on most pitches. His action has modified slightly since his debut, but is repetitive and claimed him seven plumb wickets at Karachi, as Pakistan sealed a famous home series win against India in early 2006. After that he blossomed magnificently. He was almost single-handedly responsible for Pakistan's Test series win in Sri Lanka, taking 17 wickets in two Tests. England seemed tailor-made for his particular gifts in the summer of 2006, but an elbow injury before the first Test ruled him out until the final Test, by which time Pakistan had lost the series. Problems began from here, not least the injury which has hampered him on and off since then. A promising career was then apparently cut short when he tested positive for a banned steroid, but the ban was eventually overturned, allowing him to continue. He returned to the international scene after being appointed vice captain for Pakistan's tour to Abu Dhabi after the 2007 World Cup and was back to his annoyingly best right from the start, though his pace has since been down. But just as he was recovering from the troublesome elbow, in June 2008, he was detained at Dubai airport, allegedly for possessing a recreational drug. He was eventually released after 19 days, though a second doping taint on one of the world's most promising young fast bowlers may be too much to clear away.
Osman Samiuddin (June 2008)

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Jun 20, 2008 Mohammad Asif is escorted by security officials after arriving at the Lahore airport © AFP

Jun 20, 2008 Mohammad Asif at the Lahore airport after his deportation from the UAE © AFP

Apr 16, 2008 Mohammad Asif enjoys the wicket of Tamim Iqbal © AFP

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