Wasim Akram believes 17 year old fast bowler Ali Raza has all the talent to shine for Pakistan at the international stage.
Speaking to Wisden Cricket, Akram praised contemporary top Pacers-Mitchell Starc, Jasprit Bumrah and Shaheen Shah Afridi-and then pointed to Raza’s upside: “I very rarely watch Pakistan’s first class cricket, but I think this young fast bowler, Ali Raza, has a bright future ahead. If he’s guided properly and understands what it takes to become a top red ball bowler, the white ball success will follow automatically.”
Meet Ali Raza in one minute
Raza has not yet played for Pakistan’s senior team, but he has already turned heads:
- PSL 10 (Peshawar Zalmi): 12 wickets in 9 matches, average 25.25, economy 9.18.
- Pakistan U19: 26 wickets in 11 ODIs, economy 4.91.
- First class: 32 wickets in 6 matches, best 7/48, two five-fors and one 10-for.
- List A: 17 wickets in 12 games, economy 6.16.
These are strong early numbers for a teenager, backed by pace and a repeatable action.
Wasim Akram wants politics to be separated from cricket
Akram also spoke about fairness in cricket. He doesn’t like politics creeping into selections and leagues.
In his words, sport should be open to everyone, and ICC and boards should make sure talented players get chances regardless of who owns a league or team.
Why this matters for Pakistan?
Pakistan’s cricket story is built on fast bowling.
When Wasim Akram, one of the greatest in world’s cricket, backs a young quick, people pay attention.
With proper coaching, smart workloads and patience, Raza can grow first in red ball cricket and then carry those skills into white ball formats.
What to watch next
Fans are looking for Raza’s next run of first class games and his role in the next PSL. If he keeps landing the ball in good areas and holds his pace late into spells, a senior call-up will come into view.
Wasim Akram sees real potential in Ali Raza and wants the system to give him a fair chance when playing for Pakistan. The talent is clear; careful guidance now will decide how fast he reaches the top.
