Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Lancashire sign Pakistan spinner Noman Ali for County Championship run-in
A cricket team in England called Lancashire wants to win more games.
They found a very good bowler from Pakistan named Noman Ali.
Noman is a "spinner," which means he bowls the ball in a way that makes it spin.
He has played for Pakistan's national team and taken more than 100 wickets.
A wicket is when the bowler gets the batter out.
Noman is the first spinner from Pakistan to take a "hat-trick" in a Test match, meaning he got three batters out with three balls in a row.
He will play in Lancashire's last six games of the season.
His first game will be against a team called Northamptonshire at Old Trafford.
Lancashire hopes Noman will help them win enough games to move up to a higher division.
Lancashire have signed Pakistan spinner Noman Ali for the final six matches of the County Championship.
Since his Test debut in 2021, Ali has taken over 100 wickets at an average of around 25, including a career-best 8 for 46 against England.
Ali became the first Pakistan spinner to take a Test hat-trick, achieving the feat against West Indies in 2025.
He is expected to debut against Northamptonshire on Thursday 20 August, Lancashire's Red Ball Celebration fixture at Old Trafford.
Lancashire sit seventh in Division Two and retain an outside chance of promotion in their final six fixtures.
- Who
- Lancashire County Cricket Club and Pakistan spinner Noman Ali, along with director of cricket Mark Chilton.
- What
- Lancashire signed Noman Ali for the last six County Championship matches to bolster their bowling and push for promotion.
- When
- The signing was announced ahead of Ali's expected debut on Thursday 20 August.
- Where
- Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester, England.
- Why
- To strengthen the side with an experienced spinner as Lancashire chase an outside chance of promotion from Division Two.
- Player
- Noman Ali (Pakistan spinner)
- Team
- Lancashire County Cricket Club
- Deal
- Final six matches of the County Championship
- Test record
- 100+ wickets at an average of around 25 since 2021 debut
- Career best
- 8 for 46 against England
- Historic feat
- First Pakistan spinner to take a Test hat-trick (vs West Indies, 2025)
- ICC ranking
- No. 2 in ICC Men's Test bowling rankings last October
- Debut fixture
- vs Northamptonshire, Thursday 20 August, at Old Trafford
- League position
- 7th in Division Two of the County Championship