Hasan Raza Tips His Cap : Pakistan's Record Holder Applauds India's New Teen Star
While the milestone has thrilled Indian fans, the official record for the youngest men’s international cricketer still belongs to Pakistan’s Hasan Raza: Reports
India’s rising star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi etched his name into cricket history when he became the nation’s youngest male international cricketer — and the youngest debutant from a major Test‑playing country in T20Is — at just 15 years and 99 days during his debut against England at Old Trafford.
While the milestone has thrilled Indian fans, the official record for the youngest men’s international cricketer still belongs to Pakistan’s Hasan Raza, who made his Test debut in 1996 at the tender age of 14 years and 227 days.
Speaking exclusively over telephone from Dubai, where he has been based for the past year on a coaching assignment, Raza warmly welcomed Sooryavanshi to the elite list: “I am happy for this young boy. I followed his performance in the recent match against England. I also followed his first IPL career season. He has been playing really well and I am sure he will bring glory for the nation. I wish him good luck for his bright future.”
Raza is also aware of the special facilities provided to the Indian opener in Ireland and England, including separate change‑room arrangements due to his age. Reflecting on his own teenage debut, Raza recalled a very different era: "At that time in the 1990s, I was not required to use a separate change room. There was no law as such for under‑16 boys. Neither my parents accompanied me on the tour. I was sharing the hotel room with my team captain Aamer Sohail. At that time, the players were accommodated in twin‑sharing rooms.”
Now 44, Hasan Raza’s career included 7 Tests and 16 ODIs for Pakistan. Though his record as the youngest debutant remains intact, he expressed genuine delight at seeing another teenager step onto the international stage, carrying forward the legacy of precocious cricketing talent.