Mohammad Ali

Mohammad Ali is Pakistan’s most underrated domestic seam bowler and one of the most trusted red-ball craftsmen on the circuit. Born on 1 November 1992 in Sialkot, the city that has produced more cricket equipment than perhaps anywhere else on earth and a fair few cricketers along with it, he is a right-arm fast-medium bowler who relies on seam movement, accuracy and relentless consistency rather than express pace.

In 66 first-class matches he has taken 244 wickets at an average of 25.03, numbers that quietly place him among the most productive domestic seamers Pakistan has produced in the last decade.

He made his first-class debut for Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited in the 2018-19 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and immediately showed what he was capable of, finishing as the leading wicket-taker for his side with 25 dismissals in five matches.

He became the fifth-highest wicket-taker overall in the 2022-23 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy with 24 scalps at 25.54 and that same season he took six wickets in five matches in the domestic 50-over competition, including 2 for 31 in the final, as Central Punjab won the title under coach Paul Franks, an English coach who also brought Mohammad Ali to Nottinghamshire for the 2026 county season.

His Test debut came on 1 December 2022 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium against England in the famous match where Ben Stokes’ side chased down 343 on the final day to launch their Bazball era. The conditions were flattering for batters and Ali did not take many wickets but his economy rate of under four runs an over in Test conditions showed the kind of bowler he is.

He played three more Tests after that before dropping out of the picture when Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali and others returned to the setup. His ODI debut came on 29 March 2025 against New Zealand in Napier and his T20I debut in Christchurch two weeks earlier on the same tour.

The biggest news surrounding Mohammad Ali in July 2026 is his recall to Pakistan’s Test squad for two major overseas tours. The PCB’s selection committee announced on 5 July 2026 that he is part of the 16-member squad to face West Indies starting 25 July and also named in the squad for the three-Test series in England from 19 August to 13 September. Both squads are captained by Babar Azam. The recalls of Mohammad Ali and Aamer Jamal alongside the surprise inclusions of uncapped players reflect Pakistan’s desire to build pace with the ball in English and West Indian conditions after their batting-heavy approach struggled in Bangladesh.

Crucially, his selection came while he was already in England playing county cricket for Nottinghamshire on a short-term overseas contract, taking wickets in the T20 Blast and the County Championship and proving his fitness and form to selectors watching from close quarters. He joins Mohammad Abbas, Khurram Shehzad and uncapped Ubaid Shah as Pakistan’s four specialist seamers for the tours, with Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali and Noman Ali all left out.

His Nottinghamshire stint began on 22 May 2026 in the T20 Blast and his first-class debut for the club came on 12 June 2026 against Somerset at Trent Bridge. His most recent match was for Notts against Durham in Chester-le-Street on 5 July 2026, three days before Pakistan’s squad was formally announced. At 33, with domestic credentials that have never been in doubt and international opportunities that have come in bursts rather than sustained runs, Ali arrives at the most important stretch of his Pakistan career with his game in sharp form and selectors fully convinced of what he brings to a seam attack in helpful conditions.