In Pakistan domestic cricket, breakthroughs are rarely instant. For Muhammad Hamza, the leading wicket-taker of the President’s Trophy 2025-26, success has come after years of setbacks, quiet perseverance and unwavering belief.
The Karachi-born fast bowler has been the standout performer of the season, topping the bowling charts with 47 wickets in seven matches, including four five-wicket hauls and a best of 7 for 39. Representing Khan Research Laboratories (KRL), Hamza has emerged as one of the most talked-about names in Pakistan’s premier first-class tournament.
Hamza’s cricketing journey began in Zone 6 of the Karachi Regional Cricket Association, where opportunities were limited and competition fierce. He was selected for Karachi’s Under-16 side, but did not get a single game. The Under-19 phase was no easier: just one match across three years, followed by a three-year absence from senior district cricket.
“I kept waiting for chances that never really came,” Hamza recalls, reflecting on a period when his progress appeared to stall.
His first break came in 2023, when he made his Grade II debut, only to be dropped after a single match. The following year proved pivotal. Hamza joined the Pakistan Navy, gaining both employment and a stable platform to continue his cricket.
That stability translated into performances. In Grade II cricket, he claimed 13 wickets in four matches, forcing selectors to take notice. Soon after, he earned a call-up to first-class cricket in Karachi, where he took 12 wickets in two matches, including a memorable 10-wicket haul in a single game.
Hamza’s rise did not stop there. He was part of the Karachi Region Champions Under-16 team, picking up 13 wickets in three matches, before impressing in the National T20, where he took eight wickets in four matches, the most by any Karachi bowler in the competition.
His move to KRL marked another turning point. In just five matches, he claimed 37 wickets, underlining his ability to dominate at the highest level of Pakistan domestic cricket. Those performances have now carried into the President’s Trophy 2025-26, where he has become the tournament’s most lethal bowler.
Hamza credits his growth to strong mentorship and family backing. The KRL management provided what he describes as “exceptional support”.
His inspirations are firmly rooted in Karachi cricket. He closely follows Mir Hamza and Ruman Raees, but his ultimate idol is Mohammad Amir.
“I started watching Amir closely during the 2009 World Cup. That’s when I fell in love with fast bowling,” he says.
Hamza’s earliest cricket memories are deeply personal. He trained at the UVL Academy, close to his home, often walking there with his grandfather, who carried his kit bag. “That’s how my journey really started,” he says.
Despite leading the President’s Trophy wickets table, Hamza remains grounded. His immediate focus is helping KRL win the title, but his long-term ambitions are clear.
“I want to reach the top in T20 cricket and earn my place in the PSL,” he says. “Everything else will follow.”
With performances like these, Muhammad Hamza’s name is no longer just one to watch.
