Asad Ali

Asad Ali isn't the fastest bowler going around in Pakistan, but what he lacks in out-and-out pace he makes up with his persistent line and length, and his ability to move the ball both ways. A right-arm seamer, Asad Ali has a smooth run-up and action, generally bowls in the mid-130s kph, and is the go-to man for Misbah-ul-Haq in the first-class team SNGPL and Faisalabad Wolves.

Hailing from Sargodha, a city in Punjab, Asad started his first-class career at the age of 17 for Faisalabad against Sialkot in 2005. Asad was always a consistent performer in the domestic competitions, but his performances in 2011-12 and 2012-13 were so impressive that the national selectors couldn't ignore him. In those two seasons he took 102 wickets at an average of less than 20. He was named in the squad that toured India for an ODI series in the winter of 2012, but he couldn't make into the XI.

With Umar Gul's knee injury ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy, he was called up again for the tour to Ireland and Scotland, and also for the Champions Trophy. He only managed to play one ODI, against Ireland, and in that game he made a fine debut, returning figures 1 for 22 in eight overs. He was given another chance in the Champions Trophy warm-up match against South Africa and he did his reputation no harm, picking up AB de Villiers with an outswinger and ending with figures of 3 for 30 in ten overs. He didn't get to play any of the Champions trophy matches, but is clearly one for the future.
Umar Farooq Kalson