Former Dubai resident Asif looks to play big role for Chennai Super Kings this time
- Last updated: September 9, 2020 | 20:36
A part of the Chennai Super Kings camp, KM Asif has always believed that cricket is his one and only passion.
The Kerala pacer made his T20 debut for his state team in the zonal T20 league in the 2017-18 season. Following that, he was roped in by CSK and played only two matches in the 11th edition of the Indian Premier League. In those two games that he played for CSK, Asif bagged three wickets averaging 25 with the ball.
A previous resident of Dubai, Asif has returned to Dubai with the IPL being staged in the UAE. The 27-year-old pacer is confident of playing a bigger role for CSK, now that he has all the required experience, this time around in the 2020 season of the IPL.
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“I can play a bigger role for CSK. Last time, I hardly had played any games prior to the IPL, and so I did not have the confidence or experience then. This time, I’ve already got some experience. I believe that I will get the opportunities and I now know how to utilise them,” Asif told the New Indian Express.
The pacer also recalled the day before his IPL debut, against Delhi Daredevils (now: Delhi Capitals) and how veteran cricketer Shane Watson and captain MS Dhoni had backed him.
“[Shane] Watson told me, ‘I’ve heard you’re a very good tennis-ball bowler. Think this is tennis-ball cricket, just bowl fast, don’t worry about being hit.’ That calmed me down,” Asif told ESPNcricinfo: “On match day, Dhoni bhai put his arm on my shoulder and told me to not worry, ‘even if you bowl four overs and give 40 runs, no problem. This is your chance,’” he added.
Meanwhile, Asif has only made an upward growth in his career. Following his first IPL stint, he made his first-class debut in December 2019, for his state team in the 201920 season of Ranji Trophy.
Agencies