Noman Ali wins this award becoming Pakistan's first to..

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced Pakistan left-arm spinner Noman Ali as the winner of the Men’s Player of the Month Award for October 2024. Noman Ali faced stiff competition from other nominees, New Zealand all-rounder and South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, for the award.

The 38-year-old spin bowler pipped Kagiso Rabada and Mitchell Santner to win the award. Rabada took 14 wickets in 2 Tests against Bangladesh and became the fastest bowler to reach 300 Test wickets. Santner helped New Zealand secure their first-ever whitewash over Team India earlier this month.

I Am Delighted To Be Named The ICC Men's Player Of The Month - Noman Ali

Reflecting on his achievement, Noman thanked his teammates for their support in helping Pakistan recover from an early defeat. He said he was honored to be named ICC Men’s Player of the Month. Noman highlighted how exciting it was to be part of such a historic victory for his country.

"I am delighted to be named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month and deeply grateful to all my teammates who helped me put my best performances forward to help Pakistan win a historic home Test series against England," Noman said.

"It is always exciting to be a part of such memorable wins for your country,” he added.

Noman Ali Becomes 1st Pakistan Player Since Babar Azam to Bag ICC Player of the Month Award

Noman became the first Pakistani player since Babar Azam to win the ICC Player of the Month award. The spin bowler played a crucial role in helping the Pakistan team come back after going 0-1 down. Shan Masood's side won the next two matches to secure the home Test series victory by a 2-1 margin.

The veteran cricketer was recalled to the Test side after more than a year. He finished as the leading wicket-taker in the series, taking 20 wickets in just four innings at an average of 13.85. He took 11 wickets in the second Test and followed it up with 9 wickets in Rawalpindi. He also added 78 runs with the bat.

Noman Ali Earns Spot in Top Ten of ICC Men's Test Bowling Rankings

In the third Test, Noman Ali came in at No. 9 when the team was struggling at 177/7. He scored a crucial 45-run knock, helping Pakistan take a 77-run first-innings lead. Pakistan went on to win the match by nine wickets, with Noman also delivering with the ball, taking six wickets to bowl out England for just 112.

Noman's standout performances also earned him a spot in the top ten of the ICC Men's Test Bowling Rankings for the first time. His fellow spinner Sajid Khan also impressed with his spin skills during the series. Noman is the first Pakistan player in the current ICC World Test Championship cycle to win this prestigious award.

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