Pakistan cricket legend and former captain Wasim Akram has questioned the huge welcome given to young all-rounder Razaullah after his impressive performance against England, despite Pakistan suffering a 3-0 series defeat.
Razaullah became an overnight sensation after his heroics in the third Test at Edgbaston. The debutant, who was one of seven replacement players called up from Pakistan midway through the series, was immediately included in the playing XI.
He impressed with both bat and ball, producing good pace, taking four wickets and scoring a record-breaking 81 runs off 63 balls while batting at No. 9. Pakistan, however, still lost the third Test by eight wickets.
After returning to Islamabad, Razaullah was surrounded by thousands of supporters at the airport. Videos showed fans welcoming him with bouquets and garlands, while people from his village also reportedly came to celebrate his return.
Wasim Akram criticised the celebrations during an event on Sunday. He said Razaullah should have hid his face, kept low profile after the heavy defeat and celebrated at home instead. According to Wasim Akram, the massive welcome reflected a larger problem in Pakistan cricket, where strong individual performances are being celebrated even after major team failures. He added that such celebration proves that people of Pakistan have started accepting mediocrity.
Wasim Akram also argued that changing the coach or chairman alone would not solve Pakistan’s problems because the players ultimately come from the same system. He stressed that Pakistan had not simply lost to England but had been hammered 3-0, making the scale of the celebrations difficult for him to understand.
Despite Wasim Akram’s criticism, Razaullah was one of the few positives for Pakistan in an otherwise disappointing series. His 81-run innings was particularly important, as Pakistan could have lost the Test much earlier without his contribution.
At the same time, concerns remain about whether Pakistan’s cricket system can properly develop and protect emerging talents like Razaullah. Several players of similar ability have made impressive starts in recent years but later saw their careers go off track.
Razaullah’s performance has therefore created both excitement and a bigger question for Pakistan cricket: can the system turn a promising debut into a successful long-term career?
