Joe Root’s special advice to Pakistan’s Test debutant Razaullah

England captain Joe Root personally approached Pakistan’s young fast-bowling all-rounder Razaullah after the Test match at Edgbaston, offering words of encouragement and some valuable advice following his impressive debut.

Razaullah revealed that Root made a point of meeting him after the match and praised his performance, telling him to keep working hard and pay particular attention to his fitness.

Speaking exclusively to Express from Birmingham, the Pakistan youngster said receiving appreciation from a world-class cricketer was both a proud and motivating moment.

“Having a player of Root’s stature appreciate my performance made me very happy and gave me even more confidence,” Razaullah said.

From Tape-Ball Cricket to the Test Arena

Razaullah’s journey to international cricket has been anything but straightforward.

He said his elder brother played an important role in introducing him to cricket, regularly taking him to the ground on a motorcycle. He began playing hard-ball cricket in 2019 while continuing to feature in tape-ball matches.

His first attempt at Under-19 selection in 2022 ended without success, but he refused to give up. He returned for trials the following year and eventually earned a place in the district team in 2023 before progressing to regional cricket.

In 2025, he represented Peshawar as a guest player and made a century and a fifty. His performances in first-class cricket then helped him establish himself as a promising prospect, including three five-wicket hauls.

Razaullah said first-class cricket gave him the confidence to develop both sides of his game.

He also credited his parents, brothers, friends and coaches for standing behind him throughout his journey.

‘I Want to Become a Complete All-Rounder’

Despite making his mark as a fast bowler, Razaullah has bigger ambitions.

“I don’t want to limit myself to fast bowling. I want to keep improving my batting and bowling and become a complete all-rounder,” he said.

The youngster described his rapid rise as almost unbelievable but stressed that he wanted to remain humble and focused.

He said he enjoys playing cricket and treats every match as an opportunity to learn. Rather than dwelling on his growing fame, he wants to identify his weaknesses and continue improving.

“Fame is one thing, but my main focus has to remain on cricket. My journey has only just started, and I have a lot more to achieve,” he said.

The Late-Night Call That Changed Everything

Razaullah also recalled how unexpectedly his England Test call-up came.

Before travelling to England, he had spent almost two months at a training camp before featuring for the Gold team in the Champions Cup. He then returned home.

One night, the Pakistan Cricket Board called him around midnight or 2am, but he was asleep and missed the call.

“When I woke up for Fajr prayer, I saw several missed calls. I was told to report immediately to the National Cricket Academy in Lahore,” he recalled.

He initially assumed the discussion might be related to preparations for the Asian Games. Instead, officials told him he was being sent to England to play Test cricket.

“I prayed even more after hearing the news and started preparing myself for the challenge,” he said.

Razaullah only learned that he would be part of the playing XI a day before the match, when captain Babar Azam and head coach Mike Hesson informed him.

He also clarified that his passport had actually been issued a year earlier.

‘Joe Root’s Wicket Will Always Be Special’

Among the highlights of his debut was dismissing England batting great Joe Root.

Razaullah called the wicket an unforgettable moment and said he thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Although he finished with four wickets, he admitted that he gave away more runs than he would have liked.

“I’m not too disappointed. I gave 100 percent and will learn from the experience to become better,” he said.

Razaullah Clears Up Bowling-Speed Debate

The young pacer also addressed discussion surrounding his bowling speed on the first two days.

“There wasn’t as much difference in my speed between the first and second days as people felt,” he said.

Razaullah said he bowled at around 144-145 km/h on the first day and maintained speeds of approximately 143-144 km/h on the second, although some deliveries later dropped to around 138 km/h.

He bowled eight overs on the first day and 14 on the second, saying some physical fatigue was natural after sustained bowling.

Batting Ambitions Remain Strong

Razaullah said he approached his batting without trying to overcomplicate matters.

“When I came to the crease, the match was already nearing its end. I simply wanted to play naturally and contribute to the team,” he said.

He acknowledged that being dismissed close to a century was disappointing, but he believes more opportunities will come.

“I’m working on my batting with the same seriousness as my bowling,” he said.

Waqar Younis Is His Bowling Idol

Razaullah said he does not follow just one cricketer as an idol and instead tries to learn from different players.

However, former Pakistan fast-bowling great Waqar Younis remains one of his biggest inspirations.

“I’m impressed by his bowling and style and would love to learn from him,” Razaullah said.

Interestingly, despite naming Waqar as his favourite fast bowler, Razaullah revealed that he has never met him and has not received a message from the former Pakistan captain following his impressive Test debut.