Pakistan debutant Razaullah grabbed the spotlight on Day 1 of the third Test against England at Edgbaston, dismissing Joe Root in his very first over. The 21-year-old pacer regularly touched 90mph and impressed with his raw pace and Waqar Younis-like bowling action despite Pakistan’s struggles on the opening day.
Pakistan were bowled out for just 133 runs after being asked to bat first in Birmingham on Wednesday, September 9. England ended the day on 156/4, with a 23-run lead. Razaullah finished with 2/42 from nine overs. He dismissed Joe Root and Emilio Gay to provide a rare bright spot for the visiting team.
Razaullah Announces Himself With Joe Root Wicket on Test Debut
Pakistan captain Babar Azam handed Razaullah the ball in the 12th over of England’s first innings, and the 21-year-old made an immediate impact. He regularly bowled around the 90mph mark, with his side-on action and slingy release drawing comparisons with Pakistan great Waqar Younis.
Razaullah struck with his fourth delivery when the ball swung sharply into Joe Root and hit him on the knee roll. Umpire Chris Gaffaney gave Root out LBW, but the England batter reviewed the decision. Ball-tracking showed three reds, confirming that the delivery would have hit the stumps.
The young pacer reached 92mph during his first two overs and did not drop below 89mph. He became more wayward with his lines and lengths as the day went on, but returned later to dismiss Emilio Gay. Razaullah finished the opening day with 2/42 from nine overs.
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Razaullah’s Rise Through Pakistan Domestic Cricket
Razaullah began his professional journey in the district Under-19 competition for Mardan in 2023. He then represented Abbottabad at the regional youth level before earning a contract with Sahir Associates for the President’s Trophy Grade II tournament in the 2024-25 season.
His performances helped Sahir Associates win the title and qualify for the first-class competition. Razaullah later played as a guest player for Peshawar in the 2025-26 Quaid-i-Azam Trophy, where he showed his ability with the bat by scoring a century and a fifty across two innings of one match.
The right-armer then made a bigger impact with the ball in the 2025-26 President’s Trophy. He took 30 wickets in five matches for Sahir Associates, establishing himself as one of the promising young fast bowlers in Pakistan’s domestic circuit.
Razaullah was subsequently picked by Pakistan Super League debutants Rawalpindiz. His performances also caught the eye of PCB high-performance director Aaqib Javed during practice sessions at the National Cricket Academy, further strengthening his case for a place in Pakistan’s setup.
Aaqib Javed, Mike Hesson Back Razaullah for Pakistan Debut
Razaullah was selected for a specialized fast-bowling camp in late August. The 21-year-old was among 12 pacers invited to the camp, where he trained alongside Mohammad Imran Jr, who was also included in Pakistan’s squad for the third Test.
Interim head coach Mike Hesson, who took charge after Sarfaraz Ahmed’s removal during Pakistan’s mid-series overhaul, also reportedly took a liking to the young pacer. Razaullah was subsequently included among the five uncapped players added to the Test squad after the PCB sent seven senior players home.
Pakistan had already lost the first two Tests by heavy margins, making Razaullah’s performance one of the few positives from the opening day. His pace and attacking approach have given the team another fast-bowling option, provided he maintains his fitness and improves his consistency.
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