NEW DELHI: Teen fast bowler Ali Raza etched his name into Pakistan Super League history by becoming the youngest player from Pakistan to register a hat-trick. The 18-year-old achieved the feat during Match 32 of the PSL, as Peshawar Zalmi faced Karachi Kings at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday. Raza’s spell was not only the season’s first hat-trick, but also the first ever by a bowler from Peshawar Zalmi in PSL history.
Ali Raza’s hat-trick and the impact on Karachi
Raza delivered a devastating burst through Karachi’s lower order, showing calm and execution under pressure. He finished with figures of 4 for 41, a haul that proved pivotal in keeping Karachi to 182/9, even though Jason Roy played a determined innings of 85.
- Ali Raza became the youngest Pakistani to take a hat-trick in PSL.
- The hat-trick arrived in Match 32 for Peshawar Zalmi vs Karachi Kings.
- It was the first hat-trick of the season.
- It was the first hat-trick by any Peshawar Zalmi bowler in PSL history.
- Raza’s final figures: 4/41.
- Karachi ended on 182/9, despite Jason Roy scoring 85.
A milestone with a place in PSL’s hat-trick lineage
With the landmark performance, Raza joined an elite group of PSL hat-trick makers stretching back to the tournament’s start in 2016. The trail began with Mohammad Amir, who recorded the league’s first hat-trick for Karachi Kings. Since then, the list has grown to include names such as Junaid Khan, Imran Tahir, the only spinner on the hat-trick roll, and Mohammad Sami.
More recent seasons have also produced standout match-turning spells from Abbas Afridi and Akeal Hosein. Even with those memorable contributions, Raza’s accomplishment has drawn extra attention due to the sheer early stage of his career—at just 18, he has set a fresh benchmark for pace bowlers in the competition.
- PSL hat-trick records date back to 2016.
- Mohammad Amir registered the league’s first hat-trick for Karachi Kings.
- Other hat-trick achievers include Junaid Khan, Imran Tahir, and Mohammad Sami.
- Imran Tahir is the only spinner on the hat-trick list.
- Later editions have featured hat-tricks from Abbas Afridi and Akeal Hosein.
- Raza’s feat stands out for his precocious age—18 years old.
Karachi Kings’ ongoing struggles in the season
The storyline around Karachi Kings has been troubling for them beyond this match as well. This wasn’t the first time they had come under heavy pressure during the current PSL cycle. Earlier in PSL 2026, Karachi suffered a record 159-run defeat—described as the biggest margin in league history—emphasising their persistent difficulties.
Raza’s breakthrough therefore lands as more than an individual milestone. It underlines his high potential and also gives Peshawar Zalmi a significant lift as the tournament moves toward its decisive phase.
