Like every young cricketer, Razaullah had a dream in his eyes: to represent Pakistan, play on the biggest grounds and make his Mardan city and country proud. But then, one surprise phone call changed everything.

His family says a call came from England and before long, the young man from Mansab locality left for England to play against the English side.

Just a few days ago, very few people outside Mardan knew his name, but now, newspapers are filled with headlines about him; social media is buzzing about him, and everyone is asking the same question: Who exactly is Razaullah?

He is only 21 years old, and his journey is nothing short of a movie story.

Razaullah was born in the mountainous region of Upper Dir district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Later, when his father was transferred to Mardan, the entire family moved there, and they have been living there ever since.

But the journey was not an easy one.

In an interview that went viral on social media, Razaullah revealed that initially, even his father did not know that he played cricket. His mother was also not fully aware of how serious his passion for the sport was. However, his brothers stood by him.

“My brothers supported me a lot. They stood by me and are still supporting me. I have received a lot of support from my brother,” he said.

Perhaps it was this support that gave the young cricketer the courage to keep pursuing his dream despite the challenges.

Until November last year, Razaullah had not even made his first-class debut, while he had also received very few opportunities in the Pakistan Super League. Despite this, he went on to score both a half-century and a century in first-class cricket.

Interestingly, his century came after his coach unexpectedly decided to send him in as an opener. Then came the time when the young man’s pace began attracting everyone’s attention.

While playing domestically, Razaullah was bowling at speeds of more than 90 miles per hour. At the time, Pakistan’s head coach Sarfaraz Ahmad had also said that the country was lacking fast bowlers.

And then… the phone call came.

Razaullah was in Mardan when he got the call. He was asleep at the time. The next morning when he woke up for dawn Fajr prayer, he saw the message. He was instructed to reach Lahore immediately.

Razaullah thought he might have been selected for the Asian Games in Japan. But the reality was far bigger.

The Pakistan Cricket Board had decided to include the 21-year-old in the national team.

And then he got the opportunity to play against England.

As soon as he stepped onto the international stage, Razaullah made an impact that stunned everyone.

In England’s first innings, he produced a superb display of pace and energy, taking four wickets. And it wasn’t just with the ball. With the bat, the youngster showed the same aggressive approach.

Batting at No 9, Razaullah joined Abbas to produce a remarkable 121-run partnership for the ninth wicket. During Gus Atkinson’s four-ball spell, he smashed three sixes, while he also hit a six off Josh Tong’s bowling.

Overall, he hit nine sixes, equalling Tim Southee’s record for the most sixes by a player making his test debut. He scored 81 runs off just 63 balls. In doing so, Razaullah played a crucial role in helping Pakistan secure a 121-run first-innings lead.

Perhaps the most remarkable part of his story is that he was not even considered fully ready for international cricket. He had not been seriously considered for any of Pakistan’s international squads.

Yet when the opportunity finally came, the young man bowled more overs in the first innings against England than almost any other Pakistani bowler.

For Mardan, Razaullah is more than just a cricketer. He is one of their own, a son who has made his hometown and his country proud on the international stage.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2026