Pakistan’s comeback to Test cricket has brought great success — not only for the team but also for one of its most experienced players, spinner Noman Ali. The latest ICC Test rankings update reflects his impressive rise, rewarding his exceptional performance and consistency on the field.
The left-arm spinner reached a major milestone in his career by moving up to second place in the ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings, following a brilliant display in the first Test match against South Africa in Lahore. This achievement marks the highest point of his cricketing journey so far, proving his value as a match-winner for Pakistan.
In that memorable match, the 39-year-old Noman Ali delivered an outstanding all-round bowling performance. He took six wickets for 112 runs in South Africa’s first innings and followed it up with four wickets for 79 runs in the second innings. His 10-wicket haul was the key factor behind Pakistan’s 93-run victory, which gave the home side a 1-0 lead in the two-match ICC World Test Championship series.
This stellar performance helped Noman jump four places in the rankings, reaching a career-best 853 rating points. He now trails only India’s Jasprit Bumrah, who remains at the top with 882 points. Noman’s achievement is particularly significant because he has become only the seventh Pakistani bowler in history to cross the 850-point mark in Test rankings — and the first since Yasir Shah accomplished the feat back in 2016.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s fast-bowling spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi has also made progress, climbing two places to 19th, while off-spinner Sajid Khan has maintained his position at 21st.
ICC Test Bowlers Rankings (Top 5)
| Rank | Country | Player | Rating | Career Best Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | Jasprit Bumrah | 882 | 908 vs Australia at Sydney, 2025 |
| 2 | Pakistan | Noman Ali | 853 | 853 vs South Africa at Lahore, 2025 |
| 3 | New Zealand | Matt Henry | 846 | 846 vs Zimbabwe at Bulawayo, 2025 |
| 4 | Australia | Pat Cummins | 838 | 914 vs England at Old Trafford, 2019 |
| 5 | South Africa | Kagiso Rabada | 837 | 902 vs Australia at Gqeberha, 2018 |
On the batting side, several Pakistani players have also shown improvement in the latest rankings. Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, and Salman Ali Agha moved up to 16th, 22nd, and 30th places respectively. However, Saud Shakeel continues to be Pakistan’s highest-ranked batter, holding strong at 13th place due to his consistent performances over the past few series.
ICC Test Batters Rankings (Top 5)
| Rank | Country | Player | Rating | Career Best (Opponent & Venue) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | England | Joe Root | 908 | 932 vs Pakistan at Multan, 2024 |
| 2 | England | Harry Brook | 868 | 898 vs New Zealand at Wellington, 2024 |
| 3 | New Zealand | Kane Williamson | 850 | 919 vs Pakistan at Christchurch, 2021 |
| 4 | Australia | Steve Smith | 816 | 947 vs South Africa at Durban, 2018 |
| 5 | India | Yashasvi Jaiswal | 791 | 858 vs England at Edgbaston, 2025 |
As Pakistan and South Africa continue their battle in the ongoing second Test, all attention now turns to whether Noman Ali can take his form one step further. If he continues to perform at this level, he stands a real chance to overtake Jasprit Bumrah and become the world’s No. 1 Test bowler — a historic moment that would once again highlight Pakistan’s rich legacy in producing top-class spinners.
READ MORE: Pakistan Spinner Asif Afridi Makes History with Five-for on Debut
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