Noman Ali joins Lancashire for County Championship run-in on six-match deal

Noman Ali, 39, has agreed a deal to represent Lancashire across their remaining six County Championship fixtures as the Old Trafford club looks to push up the Division Two table before the season closes.

Lancashire are currently placed seventh in Division Two with six matches still to play. The club has relied on Tom Hartley and Arav Shetty as its main spin options through the bulk of the campaign, with Liam Livingstone and Australian Chris Green each covering two mid-season games. For the closing stretch, Lancashire have moved to recruit an overseas frontline spinner with proven red-ball credentials.

Lancashire director of cricket Mark Chilton, speaking to ESPNcricinfo, said: "Noman is a hugely skilful and experienced spin bowler, and we're delighted to bring him to Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground for the County Championship run in.

"His record speaks for itself with the red ball – particularly for Pakistan over the last couple of years – and we believe his experience and know-how will make a real difference to us in these final six Championship games."

What is Noman Ali's recent international record with the red ball?

Noman returned to Pakistan's Test setup for the concluding two matches of the 2024 home series against England, a sequence in which he claimed 20 wickets and helped Pakistan seal the series 2-1. That performance re-established him as a key red-ball option for the national side.

His place in the squad did not hold, however. Pakistan's tour of Bangladesh earlier in 2026 saw him dropped, with left-arm orthodox bowler Ali Usman coming in and taking six wickets as Pakistan won the second Test at Queen's Park Oval by eight wickets during the subsequent West Indies series. Ali Usman's form has since earned him a place in Pakistan's squad for the three-Test tour of England, which runs from August 19 to September 13, 2026, across Headingley in Leeds, Lord's and Edgbaston. Offspinner Sajid Khan is also part of that touring party.

Since Noman isn't a part of the Pakistan Test squad for the upcoming three-match series against England, his availability for the county club remains unaffected by international commitments.

What does Lancashire's Division Two position mean for their promotion hopes?

Sitting seventh in Division Two, Lancashire are outside the promotion places as the season enters its final phase. Six matches remain, and while the gap to the top of the table is a challenge, a sustained run of results could still move them into contention.

"I am looking forward to playing for Lancashire and experiencing county cricket in England for the first time," The speaker said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. The County Championship is a great competition, and I'm very excited to play at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground," Noman said in a statement.

"Lancashire is one of the biggest clubs in the UK, with so much history and heritage. I am following in the footsteps of a Pakistan hero, in Wasim Akram, who played for Lancashire for many years. I'm looking forward to joining up with my new teammates and will be doing all I can to make an impact on and off the field," the cricketer added.

Lancashire sit seventh in Division Two of the Championship, though they retain an outside chance of promotion if they can string together a series of wins in their final six fixtures. They have used two homegrown spinners this year in Tom Hartley and Arav Shetty, while Liam Livingstone and the Australian Chris Green both filled in for two mid-season games but have opted to bolster their squad with a frontline, overseas spinner for the run-in.

The addition of Noman brings a spinner who has operated at Test level in English-style conditions and who has taken wickets in bulk when given the opportunity. His contract covers all six remaining Championship games, giving Lancashire a consistent spin option through to the end of the campaign. The exact dates of those fixtures have not been confirmed in available sources.