Pakistan left-arm spinner Noman Ali achieved a significant milestone during his team's ongoing Test match against Bangladesh in Mirpur.
Noman completed the milestone of 100 Test wickets on the fifth day (Tuesday) of the 1st Test between the two teams. He was the ninth spinner from Pakistan to reach the landmark.
He got there by dismissing Mehidy Hasan Miraz in Bangladesh's second innings on Tuesday. In all, Noman Ali became the 21st bowler and the 9th spinner from Pakistan to take 100 Test wickets.
Noman Ali takes 4 wickets in the first Test versus Bangladesh
Pakistan's decision to invite Bangladesh to bat first did not really pay dividends. A century from the home skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, coupled with fifties by Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim, got Bangladesh to 413.
Noman took only 1 wicket in the first innings as he dismissed Mominul for 91. Mohammad Abbas, though, took a five-wicket haul.
In response, Pakistani debutant Azan Awais scored a century while three other batters - Abdullah Fazal, Salman Agha, and Mohammad Rizwan - made fifties, but the visitors only ended with 386 to give away a lead of 27 runs.
Noman Ali himself did better in the second innings, taking three wickets this time. On either side of his dismissal of Miraz, Nonam dismissed Shanto for 87 and Taijul Islam for 3.
Bangladesh declared their second innings at 240/8 to give Pakistan a target of 268 with a little over two sessions to go in a match marred by rain.
Noman Ali becomes the third-fastest Pakistan spinner to 100 Test wickets
Noman was playing his 22nd Test when he took his 100th wicket. Among Pakistani spinners, it is the third-fastest by matches played, but among all Pakistani bowlers, it is the joint fourth-fastest.
Fastest Pakistani players to 100 Test wickets by matches
The following table lists the Pakistani players who have taken 100 Test wickets in the fewest number of matches
| Player Name | Matches to 100 Test wickets | Year in which the 100th Test wicket was taken | Batter Name (team) |
| Yasir Shah | 17 | 2016 | Miguel Cummins (West Indies) |
| Saeed Ajmal | 19 | 2012 | Matt Prior (England) |
| Waqar Younis | 20 | 1993 | Chris Harris (New Zealand) |
| Mohammad Asif | 20 | 2010 | Alastair Cook (England) |
| Fazal Mahmood | 22 | 1959 | Garry Sobers (West Indies) |
| Noman Ali | 22 | 2026 | Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Bangladesh) |
Noman Ali becomes the oldest player to take 100 Test wickets
After a profound body of work in First-Class cricket, Noman was given a Test debut in January 2021 at the age of 34.
Since then, he has managed to become a mainstay in this Pakistani line-up, especially on turning surfaces. In 2024, he and Sajid Khan combined to take all 20 wickets between the two of them against England in Multan.
Now 39 years old, Noman has become the oldest player to take 100 Test wickets. He isn't the only player to be 39 years old at the time of taking his 100th Test wicket, though. He beat the previous record holder, Bobby Peel of England, by a matter of 33 days.
| Player Name (team) | Age at the time of taking 100 Test wickets* | Year in which the 100th Test wicket was taken | Batter Name (team) |
| Noman Ali (Pakistan) | 39y 213d | 2026 | Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Bangladesh) |
| Bobby Peel (England) | 39y 180d | 1896 | Jack Kelly (Australia) |
| Ray Illingworth (England) | 39y 30d | 1971 | Aftab Gul (Pakistan) |
| Clarie Grimmett (Australia) | 39y 22d | 1931 | Georgie Francis (West Indies) |
| Sydney Barnes (England) | 38y 310d | 1912 | Warwick Armstrong (Australia) |
Noman Ali's Test career
Matches - 22, Wickets - 101, Bowl Avg - 25.08, Bowl SR - 48.5, 5wi - 9, 10wm - 3, BBI - 8/46, BBM - 11/147
Nahid Rana to Noman Ali, no run, Dot Ball !! outswinger, good length, on the off stump, and Noman Ali hangs on and tries to hit defensive shot, but misses it completely as ball beats the bat, goes to the keeper.
Noman Ali lbw b N Rana 4 (13) Nahid Rana to Noman Ali, no run, lbw b N Rana, Out LBW !! fast ball, good length, on the stumps, Noman Ali hangs in the crease to attempt defensive shot, but fails to make a contact with the ball, it hits the pad, Nahid Rana appeals for an LBW, which the umpire eventually gives, resulting in Noman Ali's dismissal.
Nahid Rana to Mohammad Abbas, no run, Dot ball !! fast ball, good length, on the off stump, Mohammad Abbas hangs in the crease, dabs defensive shot with soft hands toward short cover, but the fielder is quick to react, thwarts the ball.
Nahid Rana to Mohammad Abbas, no run, Dot Ball !! fast ball, back of length, on the off stump, and Mohammad Abbas hangs on and tries to hit defensive shot, but misses it completely as ball beats the bat, goes to the keeper.
End of over 49 (4 runs)
Taijul Islam to Shaheen Afridi, no run, Dot ball !! off break ball, full length, on the stumps, Shaheen Afridi goes forward, dabs defensive shot with soft hands toward short mid wicket, but the fielder is quick to react, thwarts the ball.
Taijul Islam to Shaheen Afridi, no run, Dot ball !! off break ball, good length, on the off stump, Shaheen Afridi hangs in the crease, dabs defensive shot with soft hands toward mid off, but the fielder is quick to react, thwarts the ball.
Taijul Islam to Shaheen Afridi, no run, Dot ball !! off break ball, good length, on the off stump, Shaheen Afridi hangs in the crease, dabs defensive shot with soft hands toward mid on, but the fielder is quick to react, thwarts the ball.
Taijul Islam to Shaheen Afridi, no run, Dot ball !! off break ball, full length, on the off stump, Shaheen Afridi goes forward, dabs defensive shot with soft hands toward point, but the fielder is quick to react, thwarts the ball.
Taijul Islam to Shaheen Afridi, no run, Dot ball !! off break ball, full length, on the off stump, Shaheen Afridi goes forward, dabs defensive shot with soft hands toward short cover, but the fielder is quick to react, thwarts the ball.
Taijul Islam to Shaheen Afridi, no run, Dot ball !! off break ball, good length, on the stumps, Shaheen Afridi goes back and slash defensive shot towards mid off, but the fielder reacts promptly and blocks it right away.
End of over 50 (0 runs)
Nahid Rana to Mohammad Abbas, no run, Dot ball !! fast ball, good length, on the off stump, Mohammad Abbas hangs in the crease, dabs defensive shot with soft hands toward short cover, but the fielder is quick to react, thwarts the ball.
Nahid Rana to Mohammad Abbas, no run, Dot ball !! fast ball, back of length, on the off stump, Nahid Rana sends down a delivery outside the off stump, and Mohammad Abbas hangs in the crease and watches it closely, deciding to let ball go to the keeper.
Nahid Rana to Mohammad Abbas, no run, Dot ball !! fast ball, back of length, on the off stump, Mohammad Abbas hangs in the crease, dabs it towards square leg, but the fielder reacts promptly, and makes a brilliant stop.
Nahid Rana to Mohammad Abbas, no run, Dot ball !! fast ball, good length, on the off stump, Mohammad Abbas goes forward, dabs defensive shot with soft hands toward short cover, but the fielder is quick to react, thwarts the ball.
Nahid Rana to Mohammad Abbas, no run, Dot ball !! fast ball, yorker, on the leg stump, Mohammad Abbas goes forward, trying to hit flick shot, but the ball shapes away late, beats the bat.
Nahid Rana to Mohammad Abbas, no run, Dot ball !! fast ball, full length, on the off stump, Mohammad Abbas goes forward and dabs defensive shot, but the fielder reacts promptly and blocks it right away.
End of over 51 (0 runs)
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Shaheen Afridi, no run, Dot ball !! off break ball, good length, on the off stump, Shaheen Afridi goes forward, dabs defensive shot with soft hands toward point, but the fielder is quick to react, thwarts the ball.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Shaheen Afridi, no run, Dot ball !! off break ball, good length, on the stumps, Shaheen Afridi goes forward and slash defensive shot towards short cover, but the fielder reacts promptly and blocks it right away.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Shaheen Afridi, no run, Dot ball !! off break ball, good length, on the stumps, Shaheen Afridi goes forward and slash defensive shot towards short cover, but the fielder reacts promptly and blocks it right away.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Shaheen Afridi, no run, Dot ball !! off break ball, good length, on the off stump, Shaheen Afridi hangs in the crease and slash defensive shot towards point, but the fielder reacts promptly and blocks it right away.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Shaheen Afridi, no run, Dot ball !! arm ball, full length, on the stumps, Shaheen Afridi goes back and slash defensive shot towards short cover, but the fielder reacts promptly and blocks it right away.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Shaheen Afridi, no run, Dot ball !! off break ball, good length, on the stumps, Shaheen Afridi goes forward and dabs defensive shot, but the fielder reacts promptly and blocks it right away.
End of over 52 (0 runs)
Nahid Rana to Mohammad Abbas, Four, Four !! fast ball, good length, on the off stump. Mohammad Abbas hangs in the crease, hits cut in the gap towards third man, and ball finds the ropes in a flash for four.
Nahid Rana to Mohammad Abbas, no run, Dot ball !! fast ball, full length, on the off stump, Mohammad Abbas hangs in the crease to make a room for himself, but left it alone for the keeper to collect at the last moment.
Nahid Rana to Mohammad Abbas, no run, Dot ball !! fast ball, good length, on the off stump, Mohammad Abbas hangs in the crease to make a room for himself, but left it alone for the keeper to collect at the last moment.
Nahid Rana to Mohammad Abbas, 1 run, Mohammad Abbas goes forward to take fast ball of good length aimed on the off stump, executing a confident push that sent the ball sailing towards long on for 1 run.
Shaheen Afridi c MH Joy b N Rana 0 (14) Nahid Rana to Shaheen Afridi, no run, c MH Joy b N Rana, Caught out !! fast ball, back of length, on the off stump, Shaheen Afridi hangs in the crease and takes a big risk by attempting pull towards square leg, edged!! and flies straight to Mominul Haque, who displays excellent fielding skills to complete the catch, resulting in the dismissal of Shaheen Afridi.