KEY POINTS
- Pace sensation has taken 9 wickets at an average of 9.88 in first round of U-19 World Cup.
- Raza has already showcased big-match temperament, taking 4/42 in 2025 U19 Asia Cup final.
- Raza’s raw pace is now being channelled with mature control on world stage.
ISLAMABAD: In the high-pressure cauldron of the ICC Under-19 World Cup, where future stars are forged, Pakistan’s Ali Raza is scripting a narrative of consistency, control, and quiet vengeance.
His latest masterclass, a miserly 3 for 16 in eight overs against Zimbabwe on Thursday, was not just another winning performance; it was another emphatic statement from a bowler on a mission.
Born and hailing from Nankana Sahib in Punjab, Raza honed his skills from a young age at the Rana Naveed Cricket Academy, laying the foundation for his rapid ascent in the sport.
Leading the rout, again
On a helpful surface at the Takashinga Sports Club, Pakistan captain Farhan Yousaf’s decision to field first was vindicated almost immediately by his premier pacer.
With the new ball, Raza was a model of disciplined aggression. In a devastating opening spell, he bowled opener Kupakwashe Muradzi and had Kian Blignaut caught behind, reducing the hosts to 22 for 2.
He returned later to add the wicket of Brandon Senzere, caught and bowled, as Zimbabwe crumbled to 128 all out.
While all five bowlers chipped in, Raza’s figures stood apart for their economy and impact, setting the stage for an eight-wicket win sealed by Sameer Minhas’s unbeaten 74.
The numbers of a menace
After three matches in the 2026 ICC tournament, Raza’s statistics are staggering: 9 wickets at an average of 9.88 and a strike rate of 19.
He sits second on the overall wickets chart, hot on the heels of Afghanistan’s Nooristani Omarzai.
More than the raw numbers, it is the relentless pressure he builds that defines his spell.
His ability to strike with the new ball and return to break partnerships makes him the spearhead of Pakistan’s potent attack.
A Ghost from Benoni: Fuel for 2026
For Raza, this campaign carries the weight of recent history. The memory of the U19 WC 2024 semi-final in Benoni against Australia is a powerful motivator.
On that heart-wrenching day, he produced a heroic 4 for 34, defending a modest total and bringing Pakistan to the brink of victory, only for Australia to scramble home by one wicket.
He finished that tournament with 9 wickets, but the team fell agonisingly short.
He cemented his big-match temperament by taking 4 for 42 in the final of the 2025 ACC Under-19 Asia Cup, helping Pakistan U-19 clinch the title against arch-rivals India.
Domestic and T20 Franchise Career
Raza’s professional journey began with his List A debut for Water and Power Development Authority in April 2024.
He soon made his first-class debut for Sialkot in October 2024 and his T20 debut later that same year.
His explosive pace attracted global franchise attention.
He was signed by the Chittagong Kings for the 2025 Bangladesh Premier League and was drafted by Peshawar Zalmi in the emerging category for the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL).
That experience of sublime personal performance met with collective agony seems to have added a layer of steely resolve to his game.
He is not just taking wickets; he is hunting them with the focus of a player who knows how fine the margins are at this level.
From PSL promise to U19 World Cup pedigree
Raza’s development has been carefully charted.
The raw pace and hostility he displayed for the Quetta Gladiators in the 2025 Pakistan Super League, notably in a fiery spell noted for high 140s km/h against Multan Sultans, showcased his ability to trouble seasoned professionals.
That experience against world-class batters has translated seamlessly into the U19 arena, where he combines his natural speed with a matured understanding of when to attack and when to suffocate.
His T10 league debut followed in October 2025, with a stint for the Deccan Gladiators in the Abu Dhabi T10 League, rounding out a year of high-profile franchise engagements.
The road to glory
As Pakistan marches into the Super Six stage, Ali Raza stands as their most potent weapon. He is more than just a wicket-taker; he is a tone-setter, a partnership-breaker, and a bowler whose presence lifts the entire unit.
His journey is a compelling subplot of this U19 World Cup: a talented fast bowler using the pain of the past as fuel, relentlessly pursuing the ultimate prize that slipped away two years ago.
The cricket world is watching, and Ali Raza is showing no signs of slowing down.
