Wasim Akram: “My request to Ali Raza is white-ball cricket will follow, focus on red-ball cricket”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan pace legend Wasim Akram has requested 17-year-old fast bowling sensation Ali Raza to focus on red-ball cricket first.
He noted that “white-ball cricket will follow”, but wants the teenager, who is capable of hitting speeds of 146 kph, to prioritise Test cricket.
Raza has enjoyed a meteoric rise to success and impressed everyone with his performance in the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Representing the Peshawar Zalmi, he claimed 12 wickets in nine matches at an average of 25.25 and an economy rate of 9.18.
“My request to Ali Raza is white-ball cricket will follow, focus on red-ball cricket,” Wasim said in a video posted by Khel Shel on X, formerly known as Twitter.
After PSL 10 ended, Pakistan took on Bangladesh in a three-match T20I series and whitewashed them 3-0.
However, they were unable to replicate their success during their tour of Bangladesh as they lost the T20I series 2-1.
Pakistan are now touring the West Indies and got back to winning ways in the T20I series as they triumphed 2-1.
The three-match ODI series started on August 9 in Trinidad.
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
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