Pakistan spinner Noman Ali has been named as the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for October 2024, edging out South African pacer Kagiso Rabada and New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner to claim the honor.

The 37-year-old left-arm orthodox bowler played an important role in Pakistan’s thrilling 2-1 Test series over England on home soil.

Noman’s outstanding performances across the series saw him take 20 wickets at an impressive average of 13.85, helping Pakistan secure their first Test series win at home since 2021.

“It is a great honour to be named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month,” Noman said in a statement.

“I am deeply grateful to my teammates who supported me throughout this historic home Test series victory against England. Such wins are always special for the team and the country.”

Noman’s heroics were highlighted by two remarkable Test performances. In the second Test, with Pakistan defending a target of 297, he claimed his career-best figures of 8/46, dismantling England’s batting lineup and securing Pakistan’s victory.

In the series-deciding third Test in Rawalpindi, Noman made a critical contribution with the bat, scoring a resilient 45 runs at No.9 to give Pakistan a 77-run first-innings lead.

He followed this with a match-winning six-wicket haul, bowling England out for just 112 to seal the series with a dominant nine-wicket win.

Noman is the first Pakistani male cricketer to win the ICC Player of the Month award since Babar Azam in August 2023.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday, unveiled the nominees for the Men’s Player of the Month Award for October 2024, including Pakistan’s left-arm spinner Noman Ali.

Noman faces a stiff competition from South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada and New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner, the other two nominated players, who delivered stellar performances that led their respective sides to historic victories.

Noman was one of the four late additions made to the Pakistan squad after the home side succumbed to an innings and 47 runs defeat in the series opener against England.

The left-arm spinner played a pivotal role in Pakistan’s astounding comeback by taking 20 wickets in the remaining two Tests at 13.85 as the home side clinched the three-match series 2-1.

His 20 wickets featured magnificent match figures of 11/147 and 9/130.

The 38-year-old also made handy contributions with the bat, the highlight of which was his 45-run knock in the first innings of the final Test.

South Africa’s Rabada, who recently returned to the top of the ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings, starred in his side’s historic 2-0 away Test series victory over Bangladesh.

Rabada accumulated 19 wickets at a brilliant average of 9.00 with the help of two five-wicket hauls.

The right-arm pacer embarked on the away series with a three-wicket haul in the first innings of the opening Test and backed it up with a six-wicket haul in the second innings, followed by a five-wicket haul in the first innings of the second Test.

Meanwhile, Santner, despite playing just one Test over the month for New Zealand, made his presence felt.

The left-arm spinner ran through India’s strong batting unit in the second Test by claiming five-wicket hauls in each innings and his career-best Test figures, all at a magnificent average of 12.07.

After making a note-worthy contribution with the bat in New Zealand’s first innings, Santner ran through India by claiming 7-53 — his best in an innings.

Defending 359 in the fourth innings, the southpaw bagged another six wickets to register match figures of 13/157. His match-winning effort earned him the Player of the Match award.

Sajid Khan claimed six wickets, while Noman Ali took three to help Pakistan bundle England for 267 after Jamie Smith’s gutsy 89 on the first day of the third Test here on Thursday.

England could add only 25 runs after the Tea, thanks to Jack Leach’s 16 as Sajid Khan took the final two wickets to claim his second five-wicket haul of the series.

Rehan Ahmed became Sajid’s fifth victim as he came down the track only to get deceived by the spin. Meanwhile, Leach got out stumped in an attempt to hit a short ball by Sajid.

Other than Sajid’s six wickets, Noman Ali got three while Zahid Mahmood bagged one.

England scored 242-8 at Tea with Rehan Ahmed (2) and Jack Leach (1) on the crease.

Ben Stokes (6) and Jamie Smith (5) resumed England’s innings after the Lunch with 110-5 on the board.

However, Stokes was soon dismissed by Sajid Khan after scoring 12 runs, bringing Gus Atkinson to the crease.

Smith and Atkinson raised a 105-run partnership to get England out of the trouble much to the frustration of Pakistan bowlers.

Atkinson, who missed the second Test, played a gutsy knock on his return to the side and scored 39 runs from 71 balls with the help of five boundaries before miscuing one back to the Noman Ali.

Jamie Smith top-scored for England with a stellar innings of 89 runs, which ended with him getting stumped off Zahid Mahmood.

England captain Ben Stokes opted to bat first on a tricky Rawalpindi pitch. The visitors got off to a decent start as opening batters Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett stitched a 56-run partnership.

However, Pakistan’s spinners continued from where they left in the last match and Noman Ali provided the first breakthrough, removing Crawley after he scored 29.

Duckett continued to anchor through the innings while new batters Ollie Pope (3) and Joe Root (5) fell prey to Sajid Khan.

The left-handed opener completed his second half-century of the series but soon became Noman Ali’s victim. Duckett departed after scoring 52 off 84 with the help of four boundaries and one six.

Sajid Khan castled Harry Brook (5) to leave England in a struggling position with the scoreboard reading 98-5.

Stokes was then joined by wicket-keeper Jamie Smith and they ensured that the English side did not suffer any further damage in the first session.

It’s worth noting that the three-match Test series is currently levelled 1-1 and the deciding third match is currently underway at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.