Mohammad Asif: “He is from my neighborhood – a good boy with great potential. Pakistan should prepare him for Test cricket. He is a lethal bowling type who will be very useful in the long format”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan seamer Mohammad Asif believes Ali Raza should start being prepared for Test cricket as he is a lethal fast bowler who “will be very useful in the long format”.
Raza has played six first-class matches so far and taken 32 wickets, which includes two five-wicket hauls, at an average of 20.50.
The 18-year-old also recently featured in the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL) and finished with 10 wickets in five matches for the Peshawar Zalmi at an average of 16.80 and an economy rate of 9.78.
“He is from my neighborhood – a good boy with great potential. Pakistan should prepare him for Test cricket. He is a lethal bowling type who will be very useful in the long format,” Asif was quoted as saying on Facebook.
Raza was not picked for Pakistan’s recent two-Test series against the West Indies, which ended as a 1-1 draw.
He also isn’t part of the squad for the ongoing three-Test series against England, where the men in green are trailing 1-0 after getting crushed by an innings and 103 runs in the 1st Test in Leeds.
The 2nd Test between Pakistan and England will start on August 27 at Lord’s.
Pakistan Squad for England Test Series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel (subject to fitness), Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah