Razaullah, a 21-year-old fast bowler playing his first Test, produced a stunning counterattack on Friday, smashing 81 from just 63 balls with nine sixes and four fours. Coming in at No.9, Razaullah took the attack to England’s pace bowlers and played a major role in pushing Pakistan’s second innings to 449. His late assault, combined with Mohammad Abbas’ 42, helped Pakistan add 121 runs for the ninth wicket and set England a target of 130.
Pakistan were staring at another heavy defeat against England when unexpected turn of events suddenly changed the mood at Edgbaston.
I thought if I played 50 balls, I’d get a positive result.
I was just enjoying myself,’ Razaullah said after his innings. And thankfully that happened,” he said. ‘I was being selective with which balls to slog, but they all seemed within range. I wanted to take it as deep as possible. I wasn’t scared of pace. I wanted to punish the balls from Archer that landed on a hard length. There’s nothing to be scared of when you’re playing for your country. “My favourite ball [to face] is the short ball. I just believed in myself.
Born on April 5, 2005, in Mardan, Razaullah came through domestic cricket with Peshawar Region before making his Pakistan Super League debut for Rawalpindi earlier this year. His most recent outing before joining Pakistan’s England campaign came on August 18, when he represented Pakistan Gold against Pakistan Green in a 50-over match. Their selection came after the Pakistan Cricket Board released seven players following the team’s 194-run defeat to England in the second Test. The 21-year-old was called up to Pakistan’s squad only days before the match, but he did not even have a passport and his phone was switched off when the news came.
Reports said Razaullah did not have a passport when he was selected for the England tour, while his phone was switched off when selectors attempted to contact him. For a player who had only recently received his opportunity at international level, the youngster had gone from an unfamiliar name in Pakistan cricket to one of the biggest talking points of the England Test. So, who exactly is Razaullah? He played two matches in the tournament and finished with three wickets. Razaullah was one of three players handed Test debuts by Pakistan at Edgbaston, along with Ghazi Ghori and Mohammad Imran. His route into the squad was anything but ordinary. A coach eventually travelled to his village to deliver the news of his selection. Razaullah’s journey to the England Test was anything but routine. His coach had to be tracked down in the mountains of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and asked to rush to Lahore so Razaullah could apply for a passport and complete his UK visa biometrics.
