Surrey County Cricket Club have signed Pakistani fast bowler, Mohammad Asif as their overseas player for the 2008 season.

With good control at a lively pace Asif has already gone past 50 Test wickets having only played 11 Matches for Pakistan since making his debut against Australia in 2005. The 24 year-old has been an automatic selection in all three forms of the game and was recently made Vice Captain of his country’s tour of Abu Dhabi.

The high point in his Test career thus far has been his devastating bowling away to Sri Lanka in 2005-06 where his figures of 17 for 183 in two Test Matches, almost single handedly won his side the series.

Asif already has experience of first class cricket in England, having played as one of Leicestershire’s overseas players in 2006. In seven LV County Championship Matches the opening bowler picked up 25 wickets at 31.52.

With Jade Dernbach making big strides at the end of last season and with the recent signings of Pedro Collins and Saqlain Mushtaq, Surrey are starting to build a fearsome bowling attack for 2008.

Commenting on the signing of Asif, Surrey Cricket Manager, Alan Butcher, said: "In Mohammad we have acquired one of the world's best new ball bowlers. He has the high quality skills required to get wickets at the Brit Oval; skills that I hope will be passed on to our younger bowlers.”

He also added: “He will form a major part of what is looking like an exciting bowling attack."

In addition, Surrey have not retained the services of Mohammad Akram for next year. The former Pakistan International, who is English qualified, signed for Surrey at the end of 2004 and picked up 91 wickets in 31 Championship Matches for the Club.

Asif has played 11 Test matches and has picked up 51 wickets at 23.13. He has also played 28 One Day Internationals and has taken 31 wickets.

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