Pakistan’s young fast-bowling all-rounder Razaullah recalls Joe Root’s advice, his unexpected Test call-up and the journey behind his impressive debut.
Pakistan’s young fast-bowling all-rounder Razaullah has revealed that England batting great Joe Root personally approached him after the Test match at Edgbaston and offered encouragement and advice following his impressive international debut.
Speaking exclusively to Express from Birmingham, Razaullah said Root praised his performance and advised him to keep working hard, with particular emphasis on maintaining his fitness.
“Having a player of Root’s stature appreciate my performance made me very happy and gave me even more confidence,” Razaullah said.
Razaullah’s journey to Test cricket began far from the international arena. He said his elder brother introduced him to cricket by regularly taking him to the ground on a motorcycle. He started playing hard-ball cricket in 2019 while also continuing to feature in tape-ball matches.
His first Under-19 selection trial in 2022 was unsuccessful, but he returned the following year and eventually earned a place in the district team in 2023 before progressing to regional cricket.
In 2025, he represented Peshawar as a guest player, scoring a century and a fifty. His first-class performances further strengthened his reputation as a promising all-rounder, including three five-wicket hauls.
Razaullah credited his parents, brothers, friends and coaches for supporting him throughout his rise and said first-class cricket helped him develop confidence in both batting and bowling.
“I don’t want to limit myself to fast bowling. I want to keep improving my batting and bowling and become a complete all-rounder,” he said.
His Test call-up came unexpectedly. After spending almost two months at a training camp and later featuring for the Gold team in the Champions Cup, Razaullah returned home.
The Pakistan Cricket Board then called him around midnight or 2 a.m., but he was asleep and missed the call. After waking for Fajr prayer, he noticed several missed calls and was instructed to report immediately to the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.
He initially believed the matter might concern preparations for the Asian Games. Instead, officials informed him that he was being sent to England for Test cricket.
Razaullah learned only a day before the match that he would be included in the playing XI after captain Babar Azam and head coach Mike Hesson informed him. He also clarified that his passport had been issued a year earlier.
One of the most memorable moments of his debut was dismissing Root. Razaullah described the wicket as unforgettable and said he enjoyed the experience despite finishing with four wickets while conceding more runs than he wanted.
He also addressed discussions about his bowling speed, saying he operated at around 144-145 km/h on the first day and approximately 143-144 km/h on the second, although some deliveries later dropped to around 138 km/h. He bowled eight overs on the first day and 14 on the second.
Razaullah said he remains equally committed to improving his batting and was disappointed to fall short of a century, but believes further opportunities will come.
The young cricketer identified former Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis as one of his biggest inspirations. Despite admiring Waqar’s bowling style, Razaullah said he has never met him and has not received a message from him following his Test debut.
“Fame is one thing, but my main focus has to remain on cricket. My journey has only just started, and I have a lot more to achieve,” he said.
About The Author
