Ali made his representative international debut for the Afghanistan U-17 cricket team against the United Arab Emirates Under-17s in 2004. His debut for the senior team came against Saudi Arabia in the 2006 Middle East Cup.[7]
In the World Cup Qualifier, he made his List-A debut against Denmark.[8] Later in the tournament, Ali scored 122 against Canada in the Super Eights in the 2009 ICC World Cup Qualifier; this match predated Afghanistan's ODI status (achieved later in the tournament), but was a List A game.[9] During the tournament Afghanistan gained ODI status. He made his One Day International debut against Scotland, where he scored 45 runs.[10]
Ali's first-class debut came in Afghanistan's first first-class match against a Zimbabwe XI. The Zimbabwe XI contained some players with experience of Test cricket – such as their captain and wicket-keeperTatenda Taibu, and fast bowlerChristopher Mpofu – and ODI cricket.[11] Ali opened the batting for the inexperienced Afghanistan team and scored a century on his first-class debut. He made 130 runs from 200 deliveries before he was dismissed by leg-spin bowler Tafadzwa Kamungozi. In Afghanistan's second innings, Ali followed up his heroics in the first innings by hitting exactly a hundred and remaining unbeaten when the match was declared a draw. Only three other players: Arthur Morris, Nari Contractor and Aamer Malik had hit centuries in both innings of their debut first-class match to that point.[12][13]
Later tours
During Afghanistan's tour of the Netherlands in 2009, Ali made a vital half century contribution in Afghanistan's second innings during their Intercontinental Cup match against the Netherlands, helping Afghanistan to a 1 wicket victory. In November 2009, Ali was a key member of Afghanistan's ACC Twenty20 winning squad.
Following the tournament, Ali made his maiden ODI century, with a score of 114 against Canada at Sharjah.[15] In the following Intercontinental Cup match with Canada, he scored 52 runs in Afghanistan's second innings, sharing an opening stand of 70 with Karim Sadiq as Afghanistan successfully chased 494 for victory. In April, Ali was a key member of Afghanistan's 2010 ACC Trophy Elite winning squad which defeated Nepal in the final. Earlier in the tournament he scored 108 runs from 88 balls against Bhutan.[16]
2010 ICC World Twenty20
In Afghanistan's inaugural match in the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 against India, Ali struck 50 from 48 balls and shared in a paternership of 68 with Asghar Afghan. Ali's 50 could not save Afghanistan from a 7 wicket defeat.[17] In the team's second match against South Africa, Ali was one of a number of Afghan batsman who were unable to cope with the express pace of the South African attack, with Ali being caught behind by Mark Boucher from the bowling of Dale Steyn.[18]
