Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Nasim Ashraf said Asif had sustained the injury during the net practice before the game against Australia and has been in pain since then. “That is why he has looked out of sorts and struggled with his line and length. He has played because of the importance of the game against Australia but I think the team management should have given him rest for the match against Bangladesh,” Ashraf said.

Asif has been in tremendous form in the tournament, took four wickets against India, and Pakistan has relied heavily on his early strikes and economical bowling in the championship. Ashraf said Asif had played after taking injections but he was still not 100 per cent fit.

“The manner in which Asif bowled against Bangladesh he does not bowl like this even in the nets,” he said.

Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik also admitted that Asif was crucial to the team’s chances in the event. Meanwhile, Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson is confident that his players can win their semifinal match against New Zealand and termed Terming their performances in the tournament as “encouraging” and “lifting.” Lawson said even the one defeat against India was acceptable. “We lost one game in the event to India and I would say it was a decent defeat as we almost won and then suddenly could not perform in the bowl out format which was new to the players,” Lawson stated.

Lawson said the good thing was that the team had faced different types of opposition in qualifying for the last four stage and they had got stronger and stronger and learnt to apply themselves in tight situations.