KARACHI: Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Zahid has backed young pacer Ali Raza to play even faster in the coming years and warned that his extra pace will be a tough challenge for modern batsmen.
In an exclusive chat with a local sports platform, Zahid expressed his belief that Ali can improve his speed considerably, seeing an improvement of around 10-15 kmph in the coming years.
“This is my personal assessment, Ali Raza is capable of increasing his pace by another 10-15 kmph,” he said.
He further predicted that the 18-year-old could eventually surpass or go beyond 155 kmph, describing such raw pace as a major threat in modern cricket.
“If he bowls that fast, if he gets 10 or 15 kmph, I want to see how these modern-day batsmen will handle Ali Raza bowling at 155 kmph. I think he will be too hot to handle,” he added.
Ali Raza’s rise through Pakistan cricket has been marked by rapid progress and growing recognition, with the young fast bowler increasingly seen as one of the country’s most promising pacers.
His blistering pace has attracted attention beyond Pakistan, earning praise from former West Indies fast bowler and commentator Ian Bishop.
He first made a name for himself at the age of 16 during the 2024 ICC U19 World Cup, where he took nine wickets in three matches, including an impressive four, underscoring his potential at the international youth level.
Continuing his upward trajectory, Ali represented Pakistan again at the U19 World Cup 2026 earlier this year.
He became the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, sharing 13 wickets in five matches alongside teammate Abdul Subhan.
His exploits translated smoothly into franchise cricket during Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11, where he moved to defending champions Peshawar Zalmi.
In five matches, he took 10 wickets at an average of 16.80. Against Karachi Kings, he became the youngest Pakistani fast bowler to take a hat-trick in T20 cricket.
Ali’s development was not limited to white-ball formats, with the teenager also making a strong impact in first-class cricket. He has taken 30 wickets in six matches at an average of 20.50, which highlights his ability to switch formats early in his career.
Despite his strong performance, Ali missed out on selection for Pakistan’s ODI squad for the upcoming series against Australia, with selectors reportedly opting to carefully manage his workload as part of a long-term development plan.