Akif Raja

{{Short description|Emirati cricketer (born 1992)}}

{{use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Akif Raja

| image =

| country = United Arab Emirates

| fullname = Raja Akifullah Khan

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|11|24|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan

| heightft =

| heightinch =

| heightm =

| batting = Left-handed

| bowling = Right-arm medium-fast

| role = Batsman

| international = true

| odidebutdate = 6 February

| odidebutyear = 2022

| odidebutagainst = Oman

| odicap = 90

| lastodidate = 4 June

| lastodiyear = 2022

| lastodiagainst = USA

| T20Idebutdate = 8 October

| T20Idebutyear = 2021

| T20Idebutagainst = Ireland

| T20Icap = 57

| lastT20Idate = 19 February

| lastT20Iyear = 2023

| lastT20Iagainst = Afghanistan

| columns = 2

| column1 = ODI

| matches1 = 1

| runs1 = -

| bat avg1 = -

| 100s/50s1 = -/-

| top score1 = -

| deliveries1 = 54

| wickets1 = 1

| bowl avg1 = 42.00

| fivefor1 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 1/42

| catches/stumpings1 = 0/-

| column2 = T20I

| matches2 = 19

| runs2 = 74

| bat avg2 = 37

| 100s/50s2 = -/-

| top score2 = -

| deliveries2 = 324

| wickets2 = 15

| bowl avg2 = 30.27

| fivefor2 = 0

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 3/22

| catches/stumpings2 = 1/–

| date = 11 March 2023

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/681067.html Cricinfo

}}

Akif Raja (born 24 November 1992) is a Pakistani-born cricketer who plays for the United Arab Emirates national cricket team.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/681067.html |title=Akif Raja |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=8 October 2021}} He played in one first-class match for Lahore Shalimar in January 2014 in the 2013–14 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy in Pakistan.{{cite web |url=http://www.pcboard.com.pk/Players/1161/1161567/1161567.html |title=Akif Raja |work=Pakistan Cricket |access-date=8 October 2021 |archive-date=8 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008065325/http://www.pcboard.com.pk/Players/1161/1161567/1161567.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/677945.html |title=Super Eight Group B, Lahore, Jan 10 - 13 2014, Quaid-e-Azam Trophy |access-date=8 October 2021}}

In October 2021, he was named in the UAE's Twenty20 International (T20I) squad for the 2021 Summer T20 Bash tournament.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsunfold.com/united-arab-emirates-vs-namibia-1st-t20i-match-details-prediction-team-squad-pitch-report-weather-report2101014/ |title=United Arab Emirates vs Namibia, 1st T20I Match Details, Prediction, Team Squad |work=Sports Unfold |access-date=4 October 2021}} He made his T20I debut on 8 October 2021, for the UAE against Ireland.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1280061.html |title=2nd T20I, ICCA Dubai, Oct 8 2021, Ireland tour of United Arab Emirates |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=8 October 2021}} In November 2021, he was named in the UAE's One Day International (ODI) squad for the 2021 Namibia Tri-Nation Series.{{cite web |url=https://www.emiratescricket.com/whatsnew/Emirates%20Cricket%20Board%20announce%20team%20to%20compete%20in%20ICC%20Men's%20Cricket%20World%20Cup%20League%202%20in%20Namibia |title=Emirates Cricket Board announce team to compete in ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 in Namibia |work=Emirates Cricket Board |access-date=23 November 2021}}

In February 2022, Raja was named in the UAE's ODI squad for their series against Oman.{{cite web|url=https://www.emiratescricket.com/whatsnew/ECB%20announce%20teams%20that%20will%20represent%20the%20UAE%20ahead%20of%20intense%203-series%20campaign%20in%20Oman |title=ECB Announce teams that will represent the UAE ahead of intense 3-series campaign in Oman |work=Emirates Cricket Board |access-date=2 February 2022}} He made his ODI debut on 6 February 2022, for the UAE against Oman.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1299587.html |title=58th Match, Al Amerat, Feb 6 2022, ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=6 February 2022}}