Ali Raza (born 18 March 2008) is a Pakistani cricketer, who is a right-arm medium fast bowler. He plays for Sialkot in domestic cricket and the Pakistan national under-19 cricket team.[1]
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 18 March 2008 Nankana Sahib, Punjab, Pakistan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm medium-fast | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Bowler | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–present | Sialkot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025–present | Peshawar Zalmi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | Chittagong Kings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Source: ESPNcricinfo, 9 January 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Early life
editRaza hails from the city of Nankana Sahib in Punjab.[2] As a pre-teen and teenager he underwent training at the Rana Naveed Cricket Academy.[3]
Youth career
editIn the 2024 Under-19 World Cup semi-final, 15-year-old Raza took 4 wickets for 34 against Australia and nearly guided Pakistan to victory. The spell marked him out as a future fast-bowling prospect for Pakistan.[4]
On 21 December 2025, in the final of the 2025 ACC Under-19 Asia Cup against India U-19, which Pakistan U-19 won, Raza took 4/42 in 6.2 overs.[5]
Domestic and franchise career
editRaza made his List A debut for Water and Power Development Authority on 24 April 2024, against Khan Research Laboratories in the 2024 President's Cup.[6] He made his first-class debut for Sialkot on 26 October 2024, against Federally Administered Tribal Areas in the 2024–25 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.[7] He made his Twenty20 debut for Panthers on 8 December 2024, against Dolphins in the 2024–25 Champions T20 Cup.[8]
Pakistan Super League
editRaza was drafted by Peshawar Zalmi in the emerging category for 2025 Pakistan Super League season. On April 19, he took four wickets against Multan Sultans. Zalmi won by 120 runs, which was the biggest margin of win by runs in the PSL, and Raza's spell of 4/21 was instrumental in Sultans' defeat. Clocking speeds in the high 140s km/h, Raza got rid of Sultans' middle-order while his accuracy at the death while his well-executed yorkers were also noted.[9]
In April 2026, during the 2026 PSL, he took a hat-trick for Peshawar Zalmi against Karachi Kings, becoming at 18 the youngest Pakistani to claim a hat-trick.[10]
Bangladesh Premier League
editIn December 2024, he was signed by Chittagong Kings to play for them in the 2025 Bangladesh Premier League.[11]
Other leagues
editIn October 2025, Raza was among a wave of Pakistani cricketers selected for the 2025 Abu Dhabi T10 League. He joined the squad of Deccan Gladiators.[12]
References
edit- ↑ "Profile: Ali Raza". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- ↑ "From the land of Asif, Aaqib Javed and Rana Naved, 15-year-old Ali Raza makes waves at U19 World Cup". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- ↑ "Emerging pace sensation Ali Raza aims high in U19 WC". The News International. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- ↑ ESPNcricinfo Staff (20 April 2025). "Watch: The U19 World Cup semi-final four-for that marked Pakistan 15-year-old Ali Raza out as a future star". Wisden. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ↑ ESPNcricinfo staff (21 December 2025). "Sameer Minhas 172 powers Pakistan to Under-19 Asia Cup title". ESPNcricinfo. ESPN. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
- ↑ "KRL vs WAPDA Cricket Scorecard, 3rd Match at Rawalpindi, April 24, 2024". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- ↑ "FATA vs Sialkot R, Pool C at Gujranwala, QEA Trophy, Oct 26 2024 - Full Scorecard". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- ↑ "PAN vs DOL Cricket Scorecard, 3rd Match at Rawalpindi, December 08, 2024". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- ↑ Zahid, Rvel (20 April 2025). "Young Ali Raza makes a mark as Zalmi demolish Sultans by 120 runs". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "Ali Raza scripts history, becomes youngest bowler from Pakistan to ..." The Times of India. 22 April 2026. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 6 June 2026.
- ↑ "BPL 2025 updated squads". The Daily Star. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- ↑ "Ali Raza among eight Pakistan players signed for Abu Dhabi T10 League". Geo Super. 18 October 2025.