Young Kerala fast bowler –KM Asif grabbed eyeballs when he was brought up by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for Rs. 40 lakh for the upcoming 11th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018.
The 24-year-old, hailing from Edavanna, a village in Malappuram district was sponsored by the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) and trained under Biju George at Thiruvananthapuram for four years.
Speaking to Sportstar after getting IPL contract with CSK, Asif revealed how state association and players helped him to become a cricketer as his conditions at home were tough and stringent.
He revealed, “The KCA had taken care of my accommodation and food, as the conditions back home were not that good. I would not have reached this far in cricket if not for the support from the KCA.”
The right-armer went to further said that his Kerala teammate Sanju Samson, who has secured IPL contract with Rajasthan Royals (RR) for Rs. 8 crore, also helped him a lot. He further added, “Sanju had helped me get trials with a few other IPL teams and has always encouraged me. He was one of the first to tell me that my pace was above average.”
So far, Asif represented Kerala in Kerala U-22 and U- 25 teams and this how at the level he earned Ranji call but did not get a chance to make his debut. Although he has impressed many with his brilliant bowling even he is yet to make his First-Class debut. However, he succeeded to clock around 144 kmph during the recent South Zone Twenty20 championship in Andhra.
He made his T20 debut for Kerala in the 2017–18 Zonal T20 League on 12 January 2018. Asif further said, “It was a pleasant surprise to learn that I had clocked something like 144 kmph against Goa. I was fortunate that the match was being beamed live as people could notice that I was capable of bowling quick. It may have even helped me bag this contract in the IPL.”
He is excited with the prospects of sharing the room with the likes of M. S. Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav, Murali Vijay, Ravindra Jadeja, Faf du Plessis, Suresh Raina and Dwayne Bravo during IPL 2018.
Asif signed off by saying, “These are the players I have watched on television. Like any Indian cricketer, the IPL has always been a dream.”
