Pakistan spinner Noman Ali to debut for Lancashire against Northamptonshire in August County Championship season.

Pakistani left‑arm spinner Noman Ali has joined Lancashire midway through the 2026 County Championship. The 39‑year‑old will play the club’s final six first‑class matches in August and September. He is set to make his Lancashire debut against Northamptonshire at Emirates Old Trafford on August 20. Ali has taken more than 100 wickets for Pakistan in Test cricket since his debut in 2021, averaging around 25. He has become one of Pakistan’s main red‑ball bowlers. His best Test figures are 8‑46 against England. In 2025 he became the first Pakistani spinner to claim a Test hat‑trick, taking it against the West Indies. A 10‑wicket match haul vs South Africa in Lahore’s first Test in 2024 moved him to second in the ICC Men’s Test bowling rankings in October. After signing, Ali said he was excited to play county cricket in England for the first time. He praised Lancashire’s heritage and said he was following in the footsteps of Pakistan hero Wasim Akram, who played for the club for many years.