Noman Ali Joins Elite List of Pakistan Test Hat-Trick Stars
Noman Ali becomes fifth Pakistan bowler to claim Test hat-trick
MULTAN: Pakistan’s left-arm spinner Noman Ali made history by becoming the first Pakistani spinner to claim a Test hat-trick.
His exceptional performance came during the first session of the ongoing second and final Test of the series against the West Indies on Saturday.
Noman achieved the remarkable feat by taking three wickets in consecutive deliveries, dismissing Justin Greaves, Tevin Imlach, and Kevin Sinclair in back-to-back balls.
This stunning display of skill has earned him a place among the elite group of bowlers who have achieved the rare Test hat-trick, with only a few fast bowlers having previously managed the feat for Pakistan.
The history of Pakistan bowlers claiming hat-tricks in Test cricket began with legendary left-arm pacer Wasim Akram, who made the landmark achievement during a home Test match against Sri Lanka in Lahore in late 1998-99.
Akram repeated this feat in the same year, taking another hat-trick against Sri Lanka.
In 2001-2, right-arm pacer Mohammad Sami became the next bowler to take a Test hat-trick, achieving it in a home Test series against Sri Lanka in Lahore.
Fast forward to 2020, pacer Naseem Shah the youngest Pakistan bowler to claim the honour, took a hat-trick during a home Test series against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi.
Now, Noman Ali has ended a five-year wait and etched his name in Pakistan’s cricketing history by taking a hat-trick during the ongoing match in Multan.
His performance has been instrumental in dismantling the West Indies’ batting lineup, following an outstanding six-wicket haul in the first Test, which Pakistan won by 127 runs.
PLAYING XIs
Pakistan: Shan Masood (c), Muhammad Huraira, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Sajid Khan, Noman Ali, Abrar Ahmed, Kashif Ali.
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite(c), Mikyle Louis, Amir Jangoo, Kavem Hodge, Alick Athanaze, Justin Greaves, Tevin Imlach(w), Kevin Sinclair, Gudakesh Motie, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican
