From Khipro to Pakistan National team, Nauman Ali's long journey


Nauman Ali is the fourth oldest Pakistani to make Test debut and in the post-2000 era, the second after Zulfiqar Babar, another left-arm spin bowler like Nauman himself. Nauman, who picked South Africa captain Quinton de Kock as his debut Test wicket in the first Test at the National Stadium in Karachi comes from a small town of  'Khipro', a subdivision of the Sanghar division in Pakistan's southern Sindh province. His home town is located 285 Kilometers away from Karachi. 

Talking about his debut he said, "I was hopeful of getting a call-up after bowling well and taking wickets in the last two seasons of first-class cricket,". Nouman who debuted at the age of 34 years and 111 days has done exceedingly well over the last two years in the domestic first-class competition picking 43 and 54 wickets in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 Qaid-e-Azam trophies respectively. 

Nauman made his debut in First Class for Khan Research and Laboratories in the 2007-08 domestic season. Since then he has picked up 285 wickets in 79 games at an average of 23.98. He can also handle the willow and has got 10 fifties in First-Class cricket to show for it. 

Saying that "It has been a long journey”, the Northerns player detailed it as “I was born and studied in Khipro but moved to Hyderabad to pursue a career as a professional cricketer with my uncle,". "My father works in the clerical staff of an oil factory in Hyderabad now," he added.

Coming back to the match in which he picked up two wickets and Pakistan have got themselves in a good position after a fighting hundred from Fawad Alam, he said, "If they (team) show confidence I am ready to deliver anywhere not only in home series.”

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