This Young Pakistani Pacer Already Has More Wickets Than Amir and Shaheen

Pakistan’s next fast‑bowling obsession might already be here, and on paper, he has started better than both Mohammad Amir and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

At the Under‑19 (U19) level, 17‑year‑old pacer Ali Raza has 32 wickets in 15 Youth ODI innings for Pakistan, at 19.34 with an economy of 4.89. Amir finished his youth ODI career with 30 wickets; Shaheen with 27. Purely on under‑19 numbers, Ali Raza is already ahead of both.

Crucially, he’s not farming those wickets in meaningless games. In the 2025 ACC U19 Asia Cup final in Dubai, he ripped through India’s chase of 348, removing the dangerous Vaibhav Suryavanshi early and finishing with 4 for 42. India were rolled for 156; Pakistan won by 191 runs and lifted their first Under‑19 Asia Cup title since 2012.

This wasn’t a one‑off. At the 2024 U19 World Cup, his sensational four‑wicket spell against Australia in the semi-final dragged Pakistan back into a game they had no right to contest.

Scouts and analysts marked that night as the moment his name moved from “talent” to “problem for future international batters.”

The numbers back it up beyond age‑group events too. For Sialkot in early first‑class cricket, Ali Raza has 32 wickets in his first six matches, showing he can handle longer spells and smarter batters. In the PSL, still only 17, he announced himself with a 4 for 21 burst for Peshawar Zalmi, dismantling a seasoned middle order of established internationals.

What makes him stand out is the blend: new‑ball wickets, control (economy under five in Youth ODIs), and a taste for high‑pressure games. Yes, the usual caveats apply: injuries, form, selection. But on youth numbers alone, this Pakistani pacer already has more wickets than Shaheen and Amir did at the same stage.

Right now, he isn’t chasing their early records.

He’s already passed them.