Nauman Ali’s late Test debut is because of healthy competition in Pakistan cricket, says his father

By Bipin Dani

Pakistani slow left-arm spinner Nauman Ali made history as he bagged a five-wicket haul for Pakistan in his debut Test against South Africa in Karachi.

At the age of 34 years and 114 days he is the oldest to take five wickets in an innings on Test debut since Fen Creswell (34 yrs and 146 days) played for New Zealand against England at The Oval in 1949.

Ali's family has no regrets on his late entry into the national team. 

"Look, it was written in his destiny to play for the country at this age and we have no regrets on this," his father Haji Goolam Rasool said. 

"He was performing well in domestic cricket in the last two years. Besides that, there has been a good competition to earn a place in the team and we have no complaints against selectors and don't blame them for my son being ignored for so long".   

"The most important thing is that he could grab seven wickets in the match including five in the second innings in his debut Test".  

Picture: Haji Goolam Rasool watching his son, Nauman Ali, during the first Test against South Africa (Akram Shahid/AFP)