Ramiz Raja: “I’ve seen him in the PSL (Pakistan Super League) – he’s young, I accept he’s had injuries, but bowling at 150 kph and not being engaged is a waste”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has called for 18-year-old pace sensation Ali Raza to be picked in the Test team, saying the men in green should utilise a bowler capable of bowling at 150 kph.
Raza has been a consistent wicket-taker and many feel he is on the cusp of earning a call-up to the national team.
Ramiz, however, doesn’t want the selectors to keep waiting and feels the teenager would benefit by being around the Pakistan players as it would aid his growth and development.
“In Test cricket, until you have one genuine fast bowler, you cannot rely only on medium pace. That’s why I’m talking about Ali Raza. I’ve seen him in the PSL (Pakistan Super League) – he’s young, I accept he’s had injuries, but bowling at 150 kph and not being engaged is a waste,” he was quoted as saying by journalist Saj Sadiq on X.
Raza is currently representing the Pakistan Under-19 team in the Asian Cricket Council Under-19s Asia Cup, where he has claimed five wickets in two games at an average of 15.
The Pakistan national team are in the midst of a two-Test series against Sri Lanka, which began on November 9 in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan Squad for the Test series against Sri Lanka: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Ali Shabbir, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Suleman, Mohammad Taha, Tayyab Arif, Razaullah, Saad Baig (wicketkeeper), Salman Ali Agha, Sameer Minhas, Saqib Khan and Saud Shakeel