5 Pakistan Bowlers With Hat-Trick In Test Cricket
Pakistan team [Source: @iamAhmadhaseeb/x]
Pakistan’s cricketing legacy is largely defined by its rich tradition of producing world-class fast bowlers and spinners who have thrived across all formats, irrespective of conditions and opponents. Among their many remarkable achievements, the rare and celebrated feat of a Test hat-trick stands as a shining testament to their abilities of seizing pivotal moments.
Here, we take a look at all instances of Pakistan bowlers taking a hat-trick in the game’s purest format, the Test cricket.
Pakistan Bowlers With Test Hat-Tricks:
1. Wasim Akram twin hat-tricks vs Sri Lanka, 1999
It took Pakistan fans nearly 47 years to witness its first Test hat-trick. However, it took them just another week to witness its second, when legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram jolted Sri Lanka twice in the matter of days during the 1999 Asian Test Championship.
In March 1999 in Lahore, Akram dismissed Romesh Kaluwitharana, Niroshan Bandaratilleke and Pramodya Wickramasinghe off successive deliveries to claim Pakistan’s first ever hat-trick in Tests. A few days later during the Championship final in Dhaka, the legendary speedster trapped Avishka Gunawardene, night watchman Chaminda Vaas and Mahela Jayawardene as Pakistan won the match by an innings and 175 runs.
2. Abdul Razzaq vs Sri Lanka, 2000
Former Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq dismissed Sri Lankan tailenders Romesh Kaluwitharana, Rangana Herath and Ravindra Pushpakumara in succession during the Galle Test of June 2000 to become only the second Pakistani cricketer to pick up a Test hat-trick.
3. Mohammad Sami vs Sri Lanka, 2002
Mohammad Sami picked up four Sri Lankan wickets during the final of 2002 Asian Test Championship in Lahore, which included three in succession in the form of Charitha Buddhika, Nuwan Zoysa and Muthiah Muralidaran to mark Pakistan’s only fourth hat-trick. Moreover, the former speedster became only the third cricketer from his country to claim the threshold. Unfortunately for Sami, Pakistan lost the match by eight wickets.
4. Naseem Shah vs Bangladesh, 2020
Naseem Shah picked up a hat-trick against Bangladesh in February 2020 to become Pakistan’s first cricketer after a gap of 18 years, and fourth overall to do so in Tests. Shah, aged 17 at the time, dismissed Najmul Hossain Shanto, Taijul Islam and Mahmudullah in the decisive innings of the match to spearhead Pakistan’s innings victory by 44 runs in Rawalpindi.
5. Noman Ali vs West Indies, 2025
Noman Ali became Pakistan’s first spinner, and fifth overall bowler to pick up a Test hat-trick when he wrecked West Indies middle-order in the second Multan Test of January 2025. The left-arm spinner dismissed Justin Greaves, Tevin Imlach and Kevin Sinclair in succession before claiming figures of 6-41.