Dominic Cork: “I believe Ali Raza can be opening the bowling for Pakistan – that’s how good I think he can be”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former England seamer Dominic Cork has backed Ali Raza to become Pakistan’s new opening bowler in the future.
His praise for the 17-year-old comes after Raza was one of the standout players in the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL).
In nine matches for the Peshawar Zalmi, the young fast bowling sensation took 12 wickets at an average of 25.25 and an economy rate of 9.18.
Having watched Raza dominate in PSL 10, Cork firmly believes he is good enough to play for the men in green and bowl with the new ball.
“I believe Ali Raza can be opening the bowling for Pakistan – that’s how good I think he can be,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
After PSL 10 ended, Pakistan took on Bangladesh in a three-match T20I series, which they won 3-0, but Raza was not picked in the squad.
He also missed the tour of Bangladesh, where the men in green lost the T20I series 2-1.
Pakistan’s next assignment will be a tour of the West Indies, where they will play three T20Is and three ODIs from August 1 to 12.
Once again, however, Raza was overlooked by the selectors.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies T20I Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufiyan Muqeem
Pakistan Squad for West Indies ODI Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufiyan Muqeem