Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has once again shown his sharp eye for spotting cricketing talent. In a recent interview, he was asked to name the best young fast bowler.
Wasim Akram mentioned Mitchell Starc, Jasprit Bumrah, and Shaheen Shah Afridi as some of the top fast bowlers who are currently performing very well. He praised their consistent speed and improvement over time.
However, Akram also spoke about a new name Ali Raza a 17-year-old fast bowler who has not yet played for the Pakistan national team. He said that Ali Raza has a very bright future ahead and could become a major star for Pakistan if he continues to grow under the right guidance. Wasim Akram added that if Ali Raza learns to focus on Test cricket, the rest of his career including white-ball formats will naturally fall into place.
Ali Raza recently represented Peshawar Zalmi in PSL 10, where his strong bowling performances caught attention. In one match against Multan Sultans, he took four wickets for just 21 runs, a remarkable feat for a young player.
Former West Indian pacer Ian Bishop also praised the youngster, calling him a “superstar in the making.”
Ali Raza has already played for Pakistan Junior League and participated in the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2024, showing promise and passion that remind fans of early Wasim Akram days.
With such talent and praise from legends, Pakistan’s fast-bowling future truly looks bright.