Nauman Ali

Noman Ali is a Pakistani cricket left-arm orthodox spin bowler. He has taken 101 career wickets in 22 Test matches for the Pakistan national team as of June 2026.

Early life and education

Ali was born on 7 October 1986, in Khipro. This small city is located in a subdivision of the Sanghar District within Sindh. He comes from a Punjabi family that has roots in the Attock District.

His uncle, Rizwan Ahmed, played internationally for Pakistan and helped develop Ali as a cricketer. Ali holds a bachelor's degree in commerce from Latifabad.

Career

Ali began his domestic career with Khan Research Laboratories (KRL). He was the leading wicket-taker for KRL during the 2018–19 Quaid-e-Azam One Day Cup, where he recorded seventeen dismissals in nine matches. During the 2018–19 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, he again led the KRL bowling attack with 43 dismissals in eight matches. In March 2019, he joined the Sindh squad for the 2019 Pakistan Cup.

He moved to Northern's squad in September 2019 for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy tournament. Ali finished as the leading wicket-taker in that tournament by claiming 54 dismissals in ten matches. He later joined the Northern squad again for the 2020–21 Pakistan Cup in January 2021.

The Pakistan national Test squad selected him in January 2021 for their series against South Africa. He made his Test debut on 26 January 2021, which made him the fourth oldest Test debutant for Pakistan. On that same day, he took his first international wicket by dismissing South African captain Quinton de Kock. He recorded 5 for 35 in the second innings—a performance that made him the 12th bowler from Pakistan to take a five-wicket haul on Test debut.

In March 2021, Ali participated in his first overseas series against Zimbabwe. During the second Test of that series, he scored 97 runs while forming a 169-run partnership with Abid Ali. He was named to the Pakistan squad for the second and third Tests against England in October 2024. In the second Test of that series, he achieved career-best figures of 8 for 46 in the second innings and 11 for 147 for the match.

On 25 January 2025, Ali became the first Pakistani spinner to take a men's Test hattrick. This historic feat occurred against the West Indies during the second Test of their tour of Pakistan. Despite his success, the West Indies scored 109 runs from their final two wickets after Gudakesh Motie scored his maiden Test half-century.

During the first Test against South Africa in October 2025, Ali claimed his third career ten-wicket haul in Tests. His performance helped set Pakistan on a path toward victory. By lunch on the final day of that match, South Africa required 139 runs with only four wickets remaining.

Ali reached a major milestone in May 2026 during the tour to Bangladesh. He took his 100th Test wicket and became the oldest player to reach that mark. This achievement broke a record that had stood for 130 years.

Awards and recognition

Ali earned the Player of the Match award for his performance against South Africa in October 2025. He remains a prominent figure in Pakistan's Test bowling attack.