Noman Ali
CountryPakistan
Birth date7 October 1986 (age 40)
Birth placeKhipro, Sindh, Pakistan[1]
BattingLeft-handed
BowlingSlow left-arm orthodox
RoleBowler
FamilyRizwan Ahmed (uncle)
Internationaltrue
Internationalspan2021–present
Testdebutdate26 January
Testdebutyear2021
TestdebutagainstSouth Africa
Testcap243
Lasttestdate8 May
Lasttestyear2026
LasttestagainstBangladesh
Club 1Hyderabad
Year 12007
Club 2Khan Research Laboratories
Year 22012–2018
Club 3Multan Sultans
Year 32019
Club 4Northern
Year 42019–2023
Club 5Karachi Whites
Year 52023/24–present
Columns4
Column 1Test
Matches 122
Runs 1391
Bat avg 114.48
100s/50s 10/1
Top score 197
Deliveries 14,906
Wickets 1101
Bowl avg 125.08
Fivefor 19
Tenfor 13
Best bowling 18/46
Catches/stumpings 12/–
Column 2FC
Matches 2135
Runs 23,281
Bat avg 219.18
100s/50s 21/14
Top score 2103*
Deliveries 226,291
Wickets 2497
Bowl avg 225.38
Fivefor 236
Tenfor 210
Best bowling 28/46
Catches/stumpings 242/–
Column 3LA
Matches 399
Runs 3855
Bat avg 314.49
100s/50s 30/4
Top score 374
Deliveries 35,148
Wickets 3127
Bowl avg 329.41
Fivefor 31
Tenfor 30
Best bowling 35/10
Catches/stumpings 327/–
Column 4T20
Matches 452
Runs 4207
Bat avg 48.62
100s/50s 40/0
Top score 426*
Deliveries 41,160
Wickets 445
Bowl avg 430.82
Fivefor 40
Tenfor 40
Best bowling 43/31
Catches/stumpings 412/–
Date12 May 2026

Noman Ali (born 7 October 1986) is a Pakistani cricketer.[2] He made his debut for the Pakistan cricket team at the age of 34 in January 2021.

Early life and family

Noman Ali was born in Khipro, a small city in a subdivision of the Sanghar District, Sindh to a Punjabi family having roots in Attock District.[3] His uncle, Rizwan Ahmed, who also played internationally for Pakistan, was crucial in the development of Noman as a cricketer.[3]

He holds a bachelor's in commerce from Latifabad.[3]

Domestic career

He was the leading wicket-taker for Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) in the 2018–19 Quaid-e-Azam One Day Cup, with seventeen dismissals in nine matches.[4] He was also the leading wicket-taker for KRL in the 2018–19 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, with 43 dismissals in eight matches.[5] In March 2019, he was named in Sindh's squad for the 2019 Pakistan Cup.[6][7]

In September 2019, he was named in Northern's squad for the 2019–20 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy tournament.[8][9] He was the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, with 54 dismissals in ten matches.[10][11] In January 2021, he was named in Northern's squad for the 2020–21 Pakistan Cup.[12][13]

International career

In January 2021, he was named in Pakistan's Test squad for their series against South Africa.[14][15] He made his Test debut for Pakistan, against South Africa, on 26 January 2021.[16] This made him the fourth oldest Test debutant for Pakistan.[17] He took his first wicket in international cricket, that of South Africa captain Quinton de Kock, on 26 January 2021.[18] In the second innings, he took 5 for 35, to become the 12th bowler for Pakistan to take a five-wicket haul on debut in Test cricket.[19]

In March 2021, he was picked for his first overseas series, against Zimbabwe.[20] In the second Test, Noman scored 97 runs in a 169-run partnership with Abid Ali.[21]

In October 2024, Noman was named in Pakistan's squad for the second and third tests in the series against England.[22][23] In the second Test, Noman finished with career-best test match figures of 8 for 46 in the second innings and 11 for 147 in the match.[24]

On 25th January 2025, Noman Ali became the first Pakistani spinner to take a men's Test hattrick against the West Indies in the second Test on their tour of Pakistan.[25] However, Pakistan failed to capitalise on his brilliance in the first innings as West Indies number 9 Gudakesh Motie scored his maiden Test match half-century, along with Kemar Roach and Jomel Warrican as the trio combined to score 109 runs off the last 2 wickets.[26]

In October 2025, during the first Test of the home series against South Africa, Noman Ali claimed his third career ten-wicket haul in Tests and setting Pakistan firmly on course for victory. By lunch on the final day, South Africa were four wickets down with 139 runs still required. Noman's performance earned him the Player of the Match award.[27]

In May 2026 on the tour to Bangladesh, Ali took his 100th wicket in Test Cricket, and also became the oldest player to do so, breaking a record that stood for 130 years. [28]

References

  1. ^ "Nauman Ali opens up on his long journey to Pakistan team". Sportstar. 26 January 2021.
  2. ^ "Noman Ali". ESPNcricinfo
  3. ^ "Nauman Ali, the Khipro kid who turned history-making late bloomer". ESPNcricinfo
  4. ^ "Quaid-e-Azam One Day Cup, 2018/19 - Khan Research Laboratories: Batting and bowling averages". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  5. ^ "Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, 2018/19 - Khan Research Laboratories: Batting and bowling averages". Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  6. ^ "Federal Areas aim to complete hat-trick of Pakistan Cup titles". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  7. ^ "Pakistan Cup one-day cricket from April 2". The International News. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  8. ^ "PCB announces squads for 2019-20 domestic season". Pakistan Cricket Board. Archived from the original on 3 September 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  9. ^ "Sarfaraz Ahmed and Babar Azam to take charge of Pakistan domestic sides". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  10. ^ "Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, 2019/20: Most wickets". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  11. ^ "Central Punjab win first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2019-20". Cricket World. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  12. ^ "Pakistan Cup One-Day Tournament promises action-packed cricket". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  13. ^ "Pakistan Cup One-Day Tournament: Fixtures Schedule, Teams, Player Squads – All you need to Know". Cricket World. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Shan Masood, Mohammad Abbas, Haris Sohail dropped from Pakistan Test squad". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  15. ^ "Nine uncapped players in 20-member side for South Africa Tests". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  16. ^ "1st Test, Karachi, Jan 26 - Jan 30 2021, South Africa tour of Pakistan". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  17. ^ "Nauman Ali becomes fourth oldest Test debutant for Pakistan". Times of India
  18. ^ "Who is Pakistan Test debutant Nauman Ali?". Wisden. 27 January 2021.
  19. ^ "Pak vs SA: Pakistan win first Test against South Africa". Geo TV. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  20. ^ "Wasim names Pakistan squad for Zimbabwe, South Africa tours; Dahani makes the cut". Geo News. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  21. ^ "Abid Ali 215*, Nauman Ali 97 put Pakistan in complete command against Zimbabwe". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  22. ^ "Pak vs Eng: Pakistan unveil squad for remaining Tests sans Shaheen, Babar". www.geo.tv. Geo Television Network. October 13, 2024.
  23. ^ "Pakistan name squad for 2nd and 3rd England Tests". www.pcb.com.pk. 13 October 2024.
  24. ^ Gardner, Alan (18 October 2024). "Noman Ali eight-for seals Pakistan's first home win since 2021". ESPNcricinfo
  25. ^ "Pakistan vs West Indies: Noman Ali becomes first Pakistan spinner to take Test hat-trick as he stars in Multan". Sky Sports. 25 January 2025.
  26. ^ "Pakistan vs West Indies, 2nd Test at Multan, PAK vs WI, Jan 25 2025". ESPN. 25 January 2025.
  27. ^ Rasool, Danyal (15 October 2025). "Masood's 20-wicket masterplan pays off as Pakistan learn to win differently". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  28. ^ "Noman Ali breaks 130-year-old record to become oldest bowler with 100 Test wickets". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 12 May 2026.