U19 World Cup: Dir’s Riazullah Set to Make Impact in South Africa

APP
Peshawar: Muhammad Riazullah, a middle-order batsman, is poised to play a crucial role in the Pakistan line-up at the ICC U19 World Cup in South Africa.
A native of Upper Dir, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, this young right-handed batter overcame significant challenges to realize his dream of pursuing professional cricket.
Riazullah, displaying determination from an early age, made the pivotal decision to relocate to Peshawar in pursuit of his cricketing aspirations. Initially met with reluctance from his parents, he eventually secured their support by showcasing unwavering passion and commitment to the sport.
“Upper Dir had limited facilities, so I had to move to Peshawar,” he told PCB Digital. “My family did not want me to move, but I promised that I would focus on my education while pursuing cricket.”
However, moving to Peshawar brought more struggles for Riazullah. “We were struggling financially at the time as my brother had cancer. My father was a schoolteacher, and most of his salary would be directed towards my brother’s treatment. When my coaches learned about my financial constraints, they supported me by significantly reducing my fee.”
In 2018, Riazullah began playing club cricket in Peshawar—his first foray into professional cricket. In the subsequent year, he featured in the PCB-organized U13 regional tournament.
Riazullah came into the limelight with his performance in the 2021-22 National U16 Cup, where he represented Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Whites U16 and topped the batting charts with 419 runs in six games, including a century and four half-centuries.
In the 2023–24 National U19 Cup, Riazullah finished as the tournament’s second-highest run-getter. Playing for Abbottabad U19, he registered two centuries in four games and earned a call-up to the national U19 team for the home series against Sri Lanka U19. Riazullah also starred with a match-winning half-century against Afghanistan U19 in the ACC U19 Asia Cup 2023.
Citing Babar Azam as his inspiration, Riazullah hopes to emulate the dynamic batter in his career. He sees the upcoming U19 World Cup as the perfect opportunity to prove himself.
Riazullah said, “I have worked hard with the coaches to prepare for South African conditions. It is a big honor to represent Pakistan at the U19 World Cup. Previously, Upper Dir’s Kamran Ghulam represented Pakistan U19, and it was a great feeling for the entire town. I want to make everyone in my family and in my town proud the same way.”