The night air in Karachi has a way of carrying cricket with it. Street lights flicker, tape-ball games spill into narrow lanes, and the rhythm of bat and ball doesn’t stop until long after midnight. In those hours, dreams don’t feel distant; they’re right there, stitched into the sound of boys arguing over run-outs and bowlers trying their hand at raw pace. It was in one such setting that Mohammad Wasim Jr first discovered his armoury, not a polished product of academies or expensive gear, but a fast bowler born from the urgency of street games, where every ball had to matter and every run conceded stayed with you until the next match.

Born on August 25, 2001, in North Waziristan, Wasim’s journey into professional cricket is nothing short of remarkable. North Waziristan is not known for producing cricketers. For decades, the region has been written about in terms of conflict rather than cricket, for the resilience of its people rather than the rhythm of the sport. For a boy from there to carry a cricket bag and wear the Pakistan colours is, in itself, a statement that talent can emerge from the most unlikely of landscapes. His story is a reminder that cricket in Pakistan isn’t just an urban phenomenon; it is a part of every corner of the country.

Wasim Jr came through junior cricket with an intensity that set him apart. Scouts often noted that he wasn’t just quick through the air; he was hungry. His run-up had a restless energy, his follow-through a determination to finish every ball as if it were the last of the match. By his late teens, he had become a regular feature in age-group cricket, quickly advancing into the Under-19 setup. Representing Pakistan at the 2020 Under-19 World Cup, he showed glimpses of the bowler he would become: disciplined with the new ball, willing to bend his back for bounce, and always searching for that late movement that troubles top-order batters.

His subsequent domestic performances accelerated his rise. For Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the 2020–21 season, he was more than just another promising youngster. He became a strike option, a bowler that captains could throw the ball to in crunch moments. His figures across formats started to attract attention. 

And then came the shorter format that truly introduced him to the wider world. T20 cricket, with its demand for variety and temperament, was a stage Wasim Jr relished. For Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League, he became a reliable weapon, someone who could bowl both in the powerplay and at the death, a rare balance for a young quick. His yorkers at the end of innings often drew comparisons with Wahab Riaz, while his hard lengths with the new ball reminded some of a young Mohammad Sami.

International cricket arrived earlier than expected. In July 2021, Wasim Jr was handed his T20I debut against the West Indies. Barely out of his teens, he found himself sharing a dressing room with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali. It was baptism by fire, but also proof of the selectors’ growing belief in his potential. He didn’t disappoint. In his first few matches, he showed both composure and intent — attributes not always associated with bowlers so young.

What sets Wasim Jr apart is not just the numbers, but the mentality. “He’s fearless,” Shaheen Shah Afridi once remarked during a press conference. “You can throw him the ball in the toughest overs, and he’ll want it. That’s rare.” That mindset, of embracing the toughest challenges, is exactly what modern cricket demands.

Wasim’s batting, while secondary, adds depth too. In first-class cricket, he has chipped in with gritty cameos, including a fighting 40 in the lower order to help save a match for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In List A, his strike rate often crosses 90, meaning he can swing momentum late in an innings. Pakistan has long searched for seam-bowling all-rounders who can balance the side, and Wasim Jr offers that potential if his batting continues to grow.

Like many young fast bowlers, injuries have tested him. A stress fracture sidelined him for a chunk of 2023, raising concerns about workload management. But his return was handled carefully by the PCB, ensuring he wasn’t rushed back too early. In interviews, he has spoken about using the downtime to work on his fitness and variations, a maturity beyond his years.

For Pakistan fans, there’s hope that in Wasim Jr, they have a bowler who can extend the proud legacy of fast bowling. From Imran Khan to Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis to Shoaib Akhtar, Shaheen Afridi to Haris Rauf, Pakistan cricket has never been short of pace. But each generation demands new heroes, and Mohammad Wasim Jr is making his case with every spell.

The boy from North Waziristan who once hurled tape balls in Karachi’s backstreets now carries the hopes of a nation that lives and breathes fast bowling. His story is still unfolding, but one thing is already certain: Pakistan cricket doesn’t just find talent; it finds it in places no one else thinks to look. And Wasim Jr is proof that those hidden dreams can run in hard lengths, hoop through the air, and dismiss the world’s best.

(As of August 2025)