Dubai, December 31, 2025: Pakistan spinner Noman Ali has achieved a career-best ranking by equalling Australia’s premier pacer Mitchell Starc at second place in the latest ICC Test bowler rankings, both earning 843 points. India’s Jasprit Bumrah continues to hold the top spot.
Noman has enjoyed a stellar year in red-ball cricket, claiming 30 wickets in four matches at an average of 17.50 and an economy rate of 3.40. His achievements include three five-wicket hauls and two ten-wicket match performances, highlighting his dominance on the field.
Among other Pakistani bowlers, Shaheen Afridi slipped one place to 24th, Mohammad Abbas dropped to 28th, and Sajid Khan fell to 29th with 590 points. Spinner Abrar Ahmed moved up one spot to 50th with 401 points, while pacers Khurram Shahzad and Aamer Jamal retained their 70th and 78th positions, respectively. Spinner Asif Afridi sits at 95th with 224 points.
In the ICC Men’s Test batting rankings, Saud Shakeel climbed to ninth place with 734 points, while wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan rose to 21st. Star batter Babar Azam maintained his 23rd spot, and all-rounder Salman Ali Agha jumped to 27th with 630 points. Test captain Shan Masood remains 44th, Imam-ul-Haq 51st, Abdullah Shafique 56th, and Kamran Ghulam dropped to 85th. Aamer Jamal and Saim Ayub share the 95th spot.
England’s Joe Root continues to lead the Test batting rankings, with teammate Harry Brook climbing three places to second, while New Zealand’s Kane Williamson moved down to third.
This remarkable performance cements Noman Ali’s status as one of Pakistan’s leading bowlers in Test cricket and reflects a strong year for the national team in the red-ball format.
