Watch: 17-year-old Ali Raza caught the eye in the Pakistan Super League yesterday, taking a four-wicket haul for Peshawar Zalmi. Early last year, at the Under-19 World Cup against eventual champions Australia, he bowled a semi-final spell that had him earmarked to be the next star of Pakistani fast bowling.
Defending 227 in the PSL, Raza scythed through the middle order to ensure Multan Sultans had no chance of chasing the mammoth total. He dismissed four international cricketers, Pakistan’s Kamran Ghulam and Iftikhar Ahmed, Australia’s Ashton Turner, and New Zealand’s Michael Bracewell, and conceded just 21 runs. Peshawar Zalmi wrapped up a 120-run victory, their first of the season.
However, those who had watched the 2024 Under-19 World Cup semi-final between Australia and Pakistan knew Ali Raza was a star brimming with potential, almost helping defend a small total.
Pakistan could only manage 179 after they were put into bat. An Australia victory seemed assured but Raza had other ideas. His first victim was Sam Konstas, now an Australia Test cricketer. He may have made waves scooping Jasprit Bumrah at the MCG, but he was no match for a Raza in-swinger that pierced the gap bat and pad before uprooting off-stump.
That was the first wicket, but though Australia lost wickets regularly, they looked to be edging home as they built to 155-6, needing just 25 more to win. Raza broke the game open again, first dismissing Oliver Peake, caught behind down the leg-side for 49, and then striking twice in an over, Tom Straker caught behind and Mahli Beardman bowled by a bail-trimmer. It wasn’t quite enough as Australia edged home by one wicket in the final over, but Raza had still announced himself.
Ali Raza made his first-class debut for Sialkot in October last year and has so far claimed 32 wickets in six games. Labelled a “star in the making” by Ian Bishop, his stocks show no sign of dipping.
Watch Ali Raza's four-wicket haul in the U19 World Cup 2024 semis here:
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