Pakistan batter Asif Ali has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing the curtain down on a career spanning over five years. The 33-year-old middle-order hitter, best known for his finishing skills, confirmed the decision through a heartfelt social media statement. On social media, Asif Ali wrote, "Wearing the Pakistan jersey has been the greatest honour of my life and serving my country on the cricket field has been my proudest chapter." Asif featured in 21 ODIs and 58 T20Is, primarily as a power-hitter in the death overs. His debut came in 2018, first in T20Is against West Indies and later in ODIs after an impressive PSL campaign for Islamabad United. Read also: Mitchell Starc retires from T20IS, likely to focus on 2027 ODI World Cup and Tests Career Highlights and Iconic Knocks Asif Ali’s most memorable innings remains his seven-ball 25 in Pakistan’s tense win over Afghanistan during the 2021 T20 World Cup. With 24 runs required in the last two overs, he hammered four sixes off Karim Janat, sealing Pakistan’s semifinal berth. His finishing prowess also shone in the 2022 Asia Cup, where an 8-ball 16 helped Pakistan edge past India. However, such cameos were often sporadic. A specialist finisher, Asif rarely faced more than seven balls per innings in T20Is and ended over 25% of those unbeaten—an indication of limited opportunities. Despite being viewed as Pakistan’s answer to the lack of big hitters, his role was sometimes misunderstood. He often batted too early in ODIs or too late in T20Is, reducing his impact. After the 2022 T20 World Cup, where he struggled for form, and a brief Asian Games outing in 2023, he slipped out of the selectors’ radar. He said, “I retire with immense gratitude and will continue to share my passion by playing domestic and league cricket worldwide."