Pakistan's Noman Ali eyes historic hat‑trick vs West Indies in 2025 Tour
by Thobelani Moyo | by Cydias Aujard
Noman Ali eyeing another historic feat
The 2025 tour of the West Indies is around the corner, with just 1 week and four days left to spare before the most anticipated meeting commences. What makes it more interesting is not about the West Indies' first Test win over Pakistan 35 years ago or the fact that Pakistan completed a 3-0 sweep in the T20i (2021), or any notable achievements about the two countries, for that matter. However, the attention is centered around one particular man who recently made history for the Falcons earlier this year when the two sides met in test matches.
Noman Ali, a left-arm spinner, is the mysterious name behind this center of attention and a widely recognized figure among cricket enthusiasts. He has already made a name for himself and managed to get his name in the record books of Pakistan cricket history in January. All eyes will be on him once again on whether he can repeat the same feat and prove to the world that his performance was not a fluke.
Pakistani Spinner: History was made by Noman Ali
On January 25, 2025, the Multan Cricket Stadium witnessed a historic feat being achieved under sunny and light winds. Noman Ali was on fire as he delivered an A+ performance for his country, Pakistan, in the second Test match against the West Indies. The West Indies won that match by 120 runs, but that didn't matter as the focus was on the left-hand spinner Ali. In that match, he became the first-ever spinner for his nation to complete a hat-trick.
It was hunger and determination beyond imagination, as he was responsible for taking three wickets in a row in the 12th over. His first victim was Justin Greaves, who was caught in a slip. The second ball directed at Tevin Imlach saw him pinned out with an LBW (Leg Before Wicket), and the third ball saw Kevin Sinclair caught at gully. For more cricket news, head on to our news section.
This is what Noman Ali had to say in a press conference after the second test match against West Indies:
"Thank God I got the honor of a hat-trick. I dedicate my hat-trick to my daughters and parents."
However, other names in Pakistani cricket history have also been able to record a hat trick. The first bowler to do so was Wasim Akram in 1999, not once but twice in the same year. Noman Ali joins a list of four players in this category, and in the table below, we have listed all Pakistani bowlers who have recorded a hat-trick in Test matches:
| Name | Opponents | Year | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Wasim Akram | Sri Lanka/Sri Lanka | 1999/1999 | Lahore/Dhaka |
| 2. Abdul Razzaq | Sri Lanka | 2000 | Galle |
| 3. Mohammed Sami | Sri Lanka | 2002 | Lahore |
| 4. Naseem Shah | Bangladesh | 2020 | Rawalpindi |
| 5. Noman Ali | West Indies | 2025 | Multan |
Final Thoughts
Having achieved this historic feat, the 38-year-old left-hand spinner is not yet done and intends to climb the ladder even higher and etch his name once again in the history books. This time around, he is eyeing a second consecutive hat trick as a spinner in front of his home crowd in the 2025 tour, something unheard of. However, the West Indies have become wary of the threat he poses and will keep their eyes locked on him.
