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Alei Nao is one of Papua New Guinea’s frontline seam bowlers, known for his accuracy, swing, and consistency with the new ball. Born on December 9, 1993, Nao has become a dependable option in both the ODI and T20I formats for PNG, providing control and crucial breakthroughs early in the innings. Nao made his debut for the national team in 2017 and quickly impressed with his ability to maintain tight lines and lengths. He typically opens the bowling attack, utilizing seam and swing to trouble top-order batsmen. Though not the fastest bowler, his discipline and subtle variations make him effective on a variety of surfaces, especially on those that offer movement off the pitch. Over the years, Nao has played key roles in ICC World Cricket League events and T20 World Cup qualifiers. His ability to restrict scoring in the powerplay and execute yorkers in the death overs makes him a valuable asset in limited-overs cricket. He was part of the squad during PNG’s historic participation in the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup. In addition to his bowling, Nao is a capable lower-order batsman who can contribute valuable runs when needed. He’s also a solid outfielder with a safe pair of hands. Off the field, Alei is seen as a quiet leader and a role model for young fast bowlers in the PNG domestic circuit. His work ethic and consistency serve as a foundation for the team’s pace attack.