Ali Raza: Age, PSL Hat-Trick, Stats and Career

Who is Ali Raza?

Ali Raza is the Pakistani fast bowler born in Nankana Sahib on 18 March 2008. He bats right-handed and bowls right-arm medium-fast. His career already spans Pakistan Under-19s, Sialkot, WAPDA, Lake City Panthers, Peshawar Zalmi, Pakistan Shaheens and Pakistan Whites.

The date of birth matters because Ali Raza is a common cricket name. The player discussed here is PCB player 55080, the teenager who appeared at the 2024 and 2026 Under-19 World Cups and took Peshawar Zalmi's first PSL hat-trick. Records belonging to older players with the same name are not part of this career.

PCB's statistical directory gives Nankana Sahib as his birthplace. A separate pathway feature connects his development with Sheikhupura, which is best read as cricketing background rather than a different birthplace. Both records identify the same 18 March 2008 fast bowler.

Ali had represented Pakistan at under-19 level and appeared for Pakistan Shaheens, but he had not played a senior Test, ODI or T20I by 3 September 2026. His Asian Games selection is a senior squad opportunity, not a cap already won.

How did Ali Raza reach Pakistan's youth pathway?

Ali moved through Central Punjab and Sialkot age-group cricket before becoming a regular Pakistan Under-19 fast bowler. He was only 15 during the 2024 Under-19 World Cup and returned two years later as the only member of Pakistan's 2026 squad who had played at the previous edition.

That continuity produced a useful progression. He took nine wickets in three matches at the 2024 World Cup, played a decisive role in Pakistan's 2025 Under-19 Asia Cup title and then collected 13 wickets across five matches at the 2026 World Cup.

Senior opportunities developed alongside the youth programme. WAPDA gave him his List A debut in April 2024, Sialkot introduced him to first-class cricket in October, and Lake City Panthers used him in the 2024 Champions One-Day Cup. Peshawar Zalmi then gave him a prominent franchise role in the PSL.

What did Ali Raza achieve at the 2024 U19 World Cup?

Ali took nine wickets in three matches at the 2024 Under-19 World Cup. The tournament record lists 180 balls, 96 runs conceded, best figures of 4 for 34, a bowling average of 10.67 and an economy rate of 3.20.

His 4 for 34 came in the semi-final against Australia. Pakistan defended 179 and reduced Australia to 164 for nine before the last pair completed a one-wicket win. The result went against Pakistan, but Ali's four wickets turned a modest target into a match that reached its final wicket.

He had also taken 3 for 44 against Bangladesh as Pakistan defended another low total by five runs. Those matches showed a young bowler contributing when one missed chance or loose over could decide the game.

Three appearances remain a small sample, so the average should not be treated as a settled career level. Its significance is competitive: at 15, he repeatedly created wickets in close World Cup matches.

How did Ali Raza help Pakistan win the 2025 U19 Asia Cup?

Ali took 4 for 42 from 6.2 overs in the 2025 men's Under-19 Asia Cup final against India. Pakistan had made 347, led by Sameer Minhas's 172, before bowling India out to win by 191 runs and secure the country's first outright title in the competition.

A large target allowed Pakistan to attack, but the final still required ten wickets. Ali supplied four of them and prevented India from building the partnerships needed to extend the chase.

The performance also connected his two World Cup campaigns. Instead of disappearing after the 2024 breakthrough, he remained in the youth side long enough to deliver a title-winning spell before the 2026 global tournament.

How strong was Ali Raza at the 2026 U19 World Cup?

Ali finished the 2026 Under-19 World Cup with 13 wickets in five matches. His figures were 270 balls, 181 runs, best bowling of 4 for 37, an average of 13.92, an economy rate of 4.02 and a strike rate of 20.77 balls per wicket.

The wickets were spread across the tournament rather than concentrated in one game. He took 4 for 37 against Scotland, added three wickets against Zimbabwe and claimed 3 for 36 when Pakistan dismissed New Zealand for 110.

The ICC named him in its 12-player Team of the Tournament. The selection panel included Ian Bishop, Lydia Greenway, Andy Flower and Telford Vice, giving the honour a defined tournament context rather than making it an informal prospects list.

Across the 2024 and 2026 World Cups, Ali took 22 wickets in eight matches. The two events had different opponents and workloads, but together they show repeat performance across separate international youth tournaments.

Why was Ali Raza's PSL hat-trick historic?

Ali took 4 for 41 against Karachi Kings on 22 April 2026. He completed a hat-trick in the final over as Karachi slipped from 161 for three to 182 for nine, and Peshawar Zalmi chased the target with seven wickets and seven balls remaining.

PCB recorded it as the first HBL PSL hat-trick by a Peshawar Zalmi bowler. At 18, Ali also became the youngest player to take a PSL hat-trick and the youngest Pakistani to achieve the feat in men's T20 cricket.

The final over contained a run-out from a wide before the three legal-delivery hat-trick. Ali dismissed Khushdil Shah hit wicket, bowled Shahid Aziz with a full delivery and bowled Hasan Ali. Keeping that sequence clear avoids the mistaken claim that one bowler took four wickets in three legal balls.

The 4 for 41 was an attacking spell rather than a low-scoring one. Karachi found runs from his overs, but the four wickets changed the shape of the innings and prevented a stronger finish.

What do Ali Raza's HBL PSL 11 statistics show?

Ali took 10 wickets in five HBL PSL 11 matches. The official tournament table records 103 balls, 168 runs conceded, best figures of 4 for 41, an average of 16.80, an economy rate of 9.79 and a strike rate of 10.30 balls per wicket.

The strike rate is the standout number: a wicket every 10.3 balls represents frequent breakthroughs. The economy rate provides the other half of the story, because an aggressive wicket-taking role also exposed him to expensive overs.

His season included three wickets against Quetta Gladiators as well as the Karachi hat-trick. Peshawar Zalmi won the title, and the PCB placed Ali in the HBL PSL 11 Emerging Team of the Tournament.

Five matches do not settle how his T20 career will develop. Opponents, bowling phases and workloads will change, but the 2026 return proves that his impact was broader than one memorable over.

What happened with Ali Raza's knee rehabilitation in 2026?

PCB withdrew Ali from the Pakistan Shaheens white-ball series against England Lions on 18 February 2026 after a medical assessment. The board said he required rehabilitation for his left knee and was working under the PCB medical panel at the National Cricket Academy.

The announcement did not publish a diagnosis, surgery, recovery deadline or long-term prognosis. Those details should not be inferred from the word rehabilitation.

Ali returned to competitive cricket during the PSL, appearing from late March and producing his hat-trick in April. Later selection for NCA camps and the Asian Games squad shows that he re-entered Pakistan's playing pathway, although those selections do not disclose private medical details.

What did Ali Raza do for Lake City Panthers?

Ali played three matches for Lake City Panthers in the 2024 Champions One-Day Cup. He delivered 126 balls, conceded 102 runs and took four wickets, with best figures of 2 for 54.

His tournament bowling average was 25.50, economy 4.86 and strike rate 31.50. Those figures provide useful early List A context because they came before his two headline PSL seasons.

The Panthers record also helps connect the steps in his senior career. He entered List A cricket with WAPDA, appeared for the Panthers in a national one-day competition and later represented Pakistan Whites in another senior List A event.

How did Ali Raza perform in the National Champions Cup 2026/27?

Ali played all three of Pakistan Whites' league matches. He took 0 for 29 against Pakistan Greens, 0 for 23 in the six-run win over Pakistan Blues and 1 for 24 against Pakistan Gold.

Across the event he bowled 66 legal balls, conceded 76 runs and took one wicket. His average was 76.00, his economy rate 6.91 and his strike rate 66 balls per wicket. He also completed one catch and scored two runs from eight balls across two innings.

The return was modest beside his youth and PSL numbers. The five-over spell of 0 for 23 against Pakistan Blues offered control, while the other two matches showed how limited spells can leave little time to recover from an expensive over.

Pakistan Whites did not reach the final. Ali's three appearances remain part of his List A aggregate, so they should not be added again when reading the event row beside the overall career row.

Ali Raza career statistics

Through 16 August 2026, Ali's senior record stood at six first-class matches and 32 wickets, 12 List A matches and 17 wickets, and 20 T20 matches and 26 wickets. His best returns were 7 for 48 in first-class cricket, 3 for 56 in List A cricket and 4 for 21 in T20 cricket.

The first-class record is particularly striking for its depth: 1,237 balls, 656 runs conceded, two five-wicket innings and one ten-wicket match. His bowling average was 20.50 and his best match return was 10 for 110.

The List A record comprised 515 balls, 529 runs and 17 wickets at 31.11. His T20 record comprised 409 balls, 617 runs and 26 wickets at 23.73, with the 2025 and 2026 PSL seasons forming important parts of that total.

The tournament rows answer narrower questions. Under-19 World Cup numbers describe youth internationals, PSL 11 describes five franchise matches and the National Champions Cup row describes three recent List A games. They overlap with career aggregates where the format is officially classified, so they are not separate career totals.

How does Ali Raza take wickets?

Ali's scorecards show a seamer capable of taking wickets in clusters. He has produced four-wicket spells in youth internationals and the PSL, while his first-class best of 7 for 48 shows that his wicket-taking is not confined to short spells.

The PSL hat-trick demonstrated several dismissal routes: hit wicket and two batters bowled by full deliveries. It was one over, not a complete tactical catalogue, but it showed the value of attacking the stumps late in an innings.

No complete public ball-tracking set covers every match of his career. A single reported speed or highlight clip cannot establish a permanent pace range, movement profile or preferred phase. The more dependable description is the one supported by repeated scorecards: a right-arm medium-fast bowler who has taken wickets across youth, first-class, List A and T20 cricket.

What are Ali Raza's main records and achievements?

Ali's most important achievements span four levels: nine wickets at the 2024 Under-19 World Cup, 4 for 42 in the 2025 Under-19 Asia Cup final, 13 wickets and an ICC Team of the Tournament place at the 2026 World Cup, and a record PSL hat-trick in 2026.

At senior level, he took 10 wickets in five matches during Peshawar Zalmi's HBL PSL 11 title season and entered the Emerging Team of the Tournament. His first-class best of 7 for 48 and 10 for 110 in a match add longer-format evidence.

The records should remain in their proper categories. An Under-19 honour is not a senior Pakistan cap, a franchise title is not an international trophy and an Asian Games squad place is not an appearance until he plays.

Which teams has Ali Raza represented?

PCB's player directory lists Pakistan Under-19s, Pakistan Shaheens, Central Punjab Blues Under-19s, WAPDA, Peshawar Zalmi, Rawalpindi Raiders, Sheikhupura Under-19s, Pakistan Whites, Lake City Panthers and Central Punjab Blues Under-16s among Ali's teams.

A team listing can mean age-group selection, domestic registration, a squad place or a completed appearance. It does not prove that he played the same number of matches for every side.

His best-documented recent playing records are five PSL 11 matches for Peshawar Zalmi and three National Champions Cup matches for Pakistan Whites. His Asian Games selection belongs to Pakistan's national squad for a future event, so it is listed separately from completed appearances.

Is Ali Raza in Pakistan's Asian Games 2026 squad?

Yes. PCB named Ali in Pakistan's 15-player men's squad for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The men's T20 event starts on 24 September 2026 and the medal matches are scheduled for 3 October.

Sahibzada Farhan was appointed captain and Abdul Samad vice-captain. When the squad was announced on 10 June, PCB identified Ali, Akif Javed, Maaz Sadaqat and Saad Masood as the four squad members who had not yet represented Pakistan in T20 internationals.

Ali also took part in Pakistan's NCA white-ball programme during June. The camp brought emerging players together with white-ball specialists ahead of future assignments, but camp participation did not itself guarantee an international debut.

The accurate position on 3 September is therefore selection, not appearance. His senior cap status can change only when an official team sheet confirms that he played.

What do Ali Raza's contract and earnings records reveal?

Public records identify Ali as a Peshawar Zalmi emerging player and as a Category 2 recipient in the PCB men's domestic contracts for 2025/26. Those categories confirm formal cricket opportunities, but they do not disclose his complete income.

A draft or contract category should not be converted into an exact salary without the agreement or an official payment schedule. Match fees, bonuses, sponsorships, taxes and agent arrangements can also change the amount a player receives.

No audited public record establishes Ali Raza's net worth. Websites that publish an exact figure without a traceable financial source are offering an estimate, not a confirmed account of his assets or earnings.

What is known about Ali Raza's family and relationships?

Reliable cricket sources document Ali's birthplace, age-group pathway and teams, but they do not provide confirmed names or occupations for his parents and siblings. There is also no reliable public record of a wife or girlfriend.

Search results for the name Ali Raza frequently mix the cricketer with actors, creators and several older Pakistani players. Personal-life claims attached only to the name are therefore especially prone to mistaken identity.

The responsible biography is limited to information Ali, his representatives or a reputable source has placed on the record. Privacy gaps are not evidence for a relationship rumour, family story or wealth claim.

Myth and reality: does one hat-trick prove a complete fast bowler?

Myth: the 2026 hat-trick alone proves Ali is ready for every role in senior international cricket. Reality: it proves that he could execute a decisive final over in a major franchise match, while the broader record still contains different workloads and outcomes.

His case is stronger than one highlight because it also includes 22 wickets across two Under-19 World Cups, a four-wicket Asia Cup final, 32 first-class wickets and a PSL Emerging Team selection.

The National Champions Cup provides a useful counterweight: one wicket in three matches. Development is rarely a straight line, and an attacking T20 bowler may need different methods when fields, spells and scoring patterns change in 50-over or first-class cricket.