Unconventional Career Arc of Noman Ali featuring Naseem Shah

Noman Ali

It’s true that Noman Ali isn’t a very flashy cricketer. He’s a left-arm spinner who doesn’t spin the ball much. He’s not even like those lower-order batters who entertain at the crease. But, he understands his role and limitations perfectly. He’s been with the team for two years now and only came into the side because Pakistan needed an extra spinner against South Africa. He’s been hanging around ever since.

Also Read: Noman Ali Masterclass Leaves Sri Lanka Struggling in the SL vs PAK 2nd Test

On the other hand, Naseem Shah is a fast bowler with boyish good looks and pace to compete with the best. He has conventional and reverse swing with frightening control and a hairline that takes pride of place among the pantheon of Pakistan fast bowlers. He’s got a lot of potential and his fandom is growing into a legion.

It’s interesting how different these two players are, but they both have their own strengths. Noman may not be flashy, but he understands his role and limitations perfectly. Naseem, on the other hand, has a lot of potential and his fandom is growing.

Noman Ali is a talented cricketer who has done jobs that no one else will. He’s sent down a lot of overs without complaint, receiving little praise in return. When he has gotten wickets, he’s been overshadowed by other players.

But in the recent perfect test match for Pakistan, they weren’t getting wickets and Sri Lanka had laid a respectable foundation with their openers. Naseem, Shaheen, and Abrar had all been tried first, but when each returned empty-handed, Babar Azam threw the ball to Noman. He found his radar immediately and got the wicket of Nishan Madushka on his first ball. He was able to blow the game open and ensure Pakistan didn’t need to play dice with the rain gods.

Perhaps Noman has been doing this all along, and we just haven’t noticed. It’s a shame that Noman Ali didn’t get the attention he deserved after picking up his fifth, sixth, and seventh wickets. Naseem was also bowling an incredible spell that couldn’t be measured in numbers. The drama rose to a crescendo, and even though Naseem beat the bat three times, Hawkeye showed that the ball was reversing too much.

Noman Ali had done his job by clearing the path for a shot at the tail and removing Ramesh Mendis. It was an impressive performance by Noman, but the cameras showed what people really wanted to see, an extended shot of Naseem surrounded by his teammates as they laughed, joked, and played with his hair. Slow left-arm spin might not be glamorous, but there’s no taking the sheen off figures of 7 for 70. It’s even rarer than a Nobel Prize.