Mohammad Asif: “Why is Ali Raza being ignored? He has the pace and height needed for international cricket”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan seamer Mohammad Asif has questioned why 17-year-old fast bowler Ali Raza is being ignored by the national selectors.
Asif noted that Raza has proven himself already, while adding that he “has the pace and height needed for international cricket”.
The teenager recently played for the Peshawar Zalmi in the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL) and took 12 wickets in nine matches at an average of 25.25 and an economy rate of 9.18.
Given the talent Raza possesses, Asif wants him fast-tracked into the national team so that he can start getting international experience.
“Why is Ali Raza being ignored? He has the pace and height needed for international cricket. Instead, we are relying on bowlers who can barely complete four overs. Throughout the Champions Trophy, no bowler looked fit enough to deliver a proper 10-over spell,” he was quoted as saying by TOK Sports on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan are now facing Bangladesh in a three-match T20I series, which they lead 1-0 after winning the 1st T20I by 37 runs.
The 2nd T20I will be held on May 30 in Lahore.
Pakistan Squad for Bangladesh T20I Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper) and Saim Ayub
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