Babar Azam: “Ali Raza has impressed me a lot; he’s a good bowler”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan batsman Babar Azam has been really impressed with 16-year-old pace sensation Ali Raza, saying he is “a good bowler”.
Raza has been a dominant force in domestic cricket as of late as during the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, he took 13 wickets in two matches for Sialkot Region at an average of 18.07.
In the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final against Peshawar Region, he put his talent on full display, claiming 10 wickets in the match, including a career-best 7-48 in the 2nd innings.
Thanks to his efforts, Sialkot Region were crowned champions as they beat Peshawar Region by one wicket.
Raza is now in action in the President’s Trophy Grade-I tournament and has made a strong start to his campaign, picking up 11 wickets in two games for the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) at an average of 20.18.
With Raza showing incredible potential, Azam acknowledged that the teenager is something special.
“Ali Raza has impressed me a lot; he’s a good bowler,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Azam recently toured South Africa with the Pakistan team and began by scoring 31 runs in two T20Is at an average of 15.50.
He then proceeded to make 148 runs in three ODIs, which included two fifties, at an average of 49.33.
As for the two-Test series, he continued to impress, amassing 193 runs, which included three half-centuries, at an average of 48.25.
After the South Africa tour concluded, Pakistan faced the West Indies in a two-Test series in Multan, but Azam failed to maintain his momentum as he only managed to muster 45 runs at an average of 11.25.
The series ended as a 1-1 draw.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha