10 Facts about Hasan Raza: The youngest Test debutant

Hasan Raza is one of the many Pakistani players to be given an early exposure to international cricket, although even by those standards his Test debut at the age of 14 years and 227 days was exceptional (doubts about his birthdate and medical tests later resulted in the PCB withdrawing the record claim – his actual age was uncertain but was around 15 at the time of debut). The right-hander performed admirably but was soon discarded and left in the wilderness, although he continued to perform well at domestic and A-team level.

1. Birth:

Hasan Raza was born on 11^th March 1982 in Karachi, Pakistan.

2. Early Impressions:

After a good First-class season in 1996-97, scoring 217 runs from three matches and having an average of 43.40, Raza made his international debut against Zimbabwe on 24th October 1996 in Faisalabad. At 14 years 227 days he remains the youngest Test debutant, well short of Mushtaq Mohammad’s previous record of 15 years 124 days.

3. Early setback:

Raza failed to accomplish of what was expected from him. Despite Pakistan winning the match, he scored 27 from 48 balls. PCB weren’t impressed and dropped him from the Test side after one match. However, he kept got a place in the ODI side.

4. ODI debut:

Raza made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe on 30^th Oct in Quetta after the Test series. He scored an unbeaten 11 off 14 balls and took his team over the line in a run-chase of 238. Pakistan won by 3 wickets with 5 balls to spare in a closely contested match. Their skipper Wasim Akram became the first man in ODI cricket to reach the 300-wicket mark.

5. Test return:

Raza was recalled against Australia at Sharjah in 2002-03, scoring 54* and 68, but both innings were slow. Two more Tests against Zimbabwe followed before he was again replaced.

6. Batting style:

He is a wonderful timer of the ball and a treat to watch but has been unable to reproduce his fluency or strokeplay on the international stage. He often got bogged down and couldn’t increase his strike rate when the team needed it the most.

7. International Stats:

Raza played 7 Tests and scored 235 runs at an average of 26.11 including 2 fifties and a top score of 68. His 16 ODI produced 242 runs at an average of 18.61 including one fifty which was his top score of 77.

8. Pakistan A:

He captained the Pakistan A side in early 2006 to Abu Dhabi in a tournament which consisted of India A, Sri Lanka A, UAE, Kenya, and Netherlands. Pakistan A reached the final of the tournament where they faced off against rivals India. Raza scored an unbeaten 105 in this match. Pakistan went on to win the tournament and he was credited for good captaincy and also won the player of the match and series awards after the final.

9. ICL:

Raza was replaced as captain of the Pakistan A team by Bazid Khan for disciplinary reasons. Hasan had always been a prolific run scorer in Pakistan’s domestic cricket but had always been overlooked by selectors because he could not translate his domestic success to the international stage. Frustrated with the PCB, he made a decision that ended all hopes of his return to international cricket as he joined the unofficial Indian Cricket League (ICL). In his first season with the ICL, he was the leading run-scorer.

10. Successful domestic career:

Raza has played 225 domestic matches and scored 13557 runs at an average of 45.03. He has hit 36 tons and 60 fifties including a top score of 256. His 191 List A matches have produced 4956 runs at an average of 39.33 including 8 tons and 26 fifties with a top score of 115 not out. His 36 T20s have produced 920 runs at an average of 32.85 and a strike rate of 111.65 including 3 fifties and a top score of 74 not out. The 34-year-old plays for Habib Bank Limited in Pakistan’s domestic circuit.