Wasim Akram Sees Bright Future in Young Pacer Ali Raza

When Wasim Akram talks about fast bowling, people listen. Always have. But this time, it wasn’t about the big names like Shaheen Afridi or Naseem Shah. It was about a teenager still finding his place in the dressing room, Ali Raza.

In an interview, Akram looked both nostalgic and excited as he spoke about the next generation. “Shaheen is back to full rhythm, Bumrah looks dangerous again, and Starc never stops being a threat,” he said, his tone steady. Then came the shift. “But this kid, Ali Raza, he’s got something special. I don’t say that often.”

“I very rarely watch Pakistan’s first-class cricket, but I think this young fast bowler, Ali Raza, has a bright future ahead. If he’s guided properly and understands what it takes to become a top red-ball bowler, the white-ball success will follow automatically,” He said.

Those words carried weight. Akram has seen hundreds of young bowlers come and go. Yet the way he described Ali. He was talking about raw pace, control, and hunger, making it sound like the beginning of a story worth following. “If he’s guided well and learns the hard yards in red-ball cricket, white-ball success will come naturally,” he added.

Akram’s approval isn’t handed out easily. He’s been critical of Pakistan’s talent pipeline before. But hearing him sound hopeful again felt like a breath of fresh air. Akram said simply. “If he keeps his head right, Pakistan cricket will have another weapon.”

Ali Raza, just 17, has been impressive in early outings. 12 wickets in nine PSL games and an economy under ten. For a debut season, that’s more than respectable. And yet, it’s not just the stats. Watch him bowl, and you’ll see why Akram noticed the easy run-up, the whip of the wrist, the natural aggression. There’s rhythm in the chaos.

Few youngsters handle that kind of spotlight well. But Ali seems unbothered. He brings passion, aggression, and quality in his bowling. That's the kind of energy that hooks fans instantly.

Still, Akram didn’t shy away from the other side of the story. He called out the growing politics in cricket and how young talent sometimes gets lost in the noise. “What I don’t like in cricket is politics. Sports should be away from it. In league cricket, every player from every nation should be picked. Be brave, be bigger, but that’s not happening, unfortunately,” he remarked.” He believes every player deserves a fair chance, no matter where he’s from.”

Those lines struck a chord. Because behind every rising star, there’s a battle for opportunity, recognition, and survival. Akram knows it too well. So when he speaks about fairness and the future, it carries a touch of personal truth.

Whether Ali Raza becomes Pakistan’s next big fast-bowling name or fades like many before him, time will tell. But one thing’s certain: when Wasim Akram calls someone the future, it’s worth paying attention. No doubt about it.