Arshad Ali (cricketer)

{{short description|United Arab Emirates cricketer|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{for|the Respect Party politician|Arshad Ali (Pakistani politician)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Arshad Ali

| image =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1976|4|6|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Sialkot, Pakistan

| fullname = Arshad Ali

| family = Abdullah Shafique (nephew)

| country = United Arab Emirates

| international = true

| internationalspan = 2001–2013

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Legbreak

| odidebutagainst = India

| odidebutdate = 16 July

| odidebutyear = 2004

| odicap = 19

| lastodiagainst = Sri Lanka

| lastodidate = 26 June

| lastodiyear = 2008

| columns = 1

| column1 = ODI

| matches1 = 4

| runs1 = 54

| bat avg1 = 13.50

| 100s/50s1 = 0/0

| top score1 = 41

| deliveries1 = 102

| wickets1 = 1

| bowl avg1 = 105.00

| fivefor1 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 1/5

| catches/stumpings1 = 1/–

| date = 17 July

| year = 2004

| source = http://content-www.cricinfo.com/other/content/player/25591.html Cricinfo

}}

Arshad Ali (born 6 April 1976) is a former Pakistani-born cricketer who played for the United Arab Emirates national cricket team.[http://content-www.cricinfo.com/other/content/player/25591.html Arshad Ali] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007215216/http://content-www.cricinfo.com/other/content/player/25591.html |date=7 October 2008 }} ESPNCricinfo

Ali was born in Sialkot, Pakistan. He was taught cricket by his brother Shafiq Ahmed, who moved to the UAE in 1991. Ali subsequently followed his brother to Dubai and excelled in local domestic cricket, winning an award as the Dubai Cricket Council's best junior player. He reportedly scored 35 centuries in six years in local tournaments through to 2001.{{cite news|url=https://gulfnews.com/uae/shafiq-shows-the-way-for-arshad-to-glory-1.432968|title=Shafiq shows the way for Arshad to glory|newspaper=Gulf News|first=K. R.|last=Nayar|date=21 December 2001|accessdate=5 December 2021|archive-date=5 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205070643/https://gulfnews.com/uae/shafiq-shows-the-way-for-arshad-to-glory-1.432968|url-status=live}} His nephew and Shafiq's son is Pakistan international Abdullah Shafique.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/cricket/abdullah-shafiq-rises-quickly-in-pakistan-cricket-as-father-watches-with-bated-breath-in-dubai-1.1101463|title=Abdullah Shafiq rises quickly in Pakistan cricket as father watches with bated breath in Dubai|newspaper=The National|location=UAE|date=29 October 2020|accessdate=5 December 2021|first=Paul|last=Radley|archive-date=5 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205070015/https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/cricket/abdullah-shafiq-rises-quickly-in-pakistan-cricket-as-father-watches-with-bated-breath-in-dubai-1.1101463|url-status=live}}

Ali represented the UAE at the 2001 ICC Trophy in Canada, notably scoring a century against Ireland.{{cite news|url=https://gulfnews.com/uae/alis-ton-powers-uae-to-exciting-cricket-win-over-ireland-1.420840|title=Ali's ton powers UAE to exciting cricket win over Ireland|first=K. R.|last=Nayar|newspaper=Gulf News|date=12 July 2001|accessdate=5 December 2021|archive-date=5 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205071313/https://gulfnews.com/uae/alis-ton-powers-uae-to-exciting-cricket-win-over-ireland-1.420840|url-status=live}} He was named man of the match in the final of the 2002 ACC Trophy after taking 4/24 against Nepal.{{cite news|url=http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2002/OTHERS+ICC/ACCT/SCORECARDS/FINALS/NEP_UAE_ACCT-FINAL_21JUL2002.html|title=Asian Cricket Council Trophy, 2002, Final|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|accessdate=5 December 2021}} He made his One Day International (ODI) debut for the UAE against India at the 2004 Asia Cup. He played three further ODIs, one more at the 2004 Asia Cup and two at the 2008 Asia Cup, with a highest score of 41 against Bangladesh in 2008.{{Cite news|url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/25591.html?class=2;template=results;type=allround;view=match|title=STATISTICS / STATSGURU / ARSHAD ALI / ONE-DAY INTERNATIONALS|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|accessdate=5 December 2021|archive-date=5 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205071744/https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/25591.html?class=2;template=results;type=allround;view=match|url-status=live}}

In the opening match of the 2006 ACC Trophy, Ali scored 213 not out against Brunei to lead the UAE to a 367-run win.{{cite news|url=https://gulfnews.com/sport/cricket/arshad-smashes-unbeaten-213-in-record-uae-win-1.249943|title=Arshad smashes unbeaten 213 in record UAE win|newspaper=Gulf News|date=15 August 2006|first=Alaric|last=Gomes|accessdate=5 December 2021|archive-date=5 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205072431/https://gulfnews.com/sport/cricket/arshad-smashes-unbeaten-213-in-record-uae-win-1.249943|url-status=live}} His highest score in first-class cricket was 185 against Bermuda in the 2007–08 ICC Intercontinental Cup.{{cite news|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-intercontinental-cup-2007-2008-09-292158/united-arab-emirates-vs-bermuda-292303/match-report|title=Pitiful Bermuda slump to UAE|date=11 November 2007|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|accessdate=5 December 2021|archive-date=5 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205072430/https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-intercontinental-cup-2007-2008-09-292158/united-arab-emirates-vs-bermuda-292303/match-report|url-status=live}} Only two weeks later, he took career-best List A figures of 7/41 against Denmark in 2007 ICC World Cricket League Division Two.{{cite news|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-world-cricket-league-division-two-2007-08-314541/denmark-vs-united-arab-emirates-314680/full-scorecard|title=Denmark v UAE, Windhoek, Nov 25 2007, ICC World Cricket League Division Two|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|accessdate=5 December 2021|archive-date=5 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205072725/https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-world-cricket-league-division-two-2007-08-314541/denmark-vs-united-arab-emirates-314680/full-scorecard|url-status=live}}

In 2010, Ali took 3/7 against the English county team Sussex in the final of the Emirates Airline Twenty20, leading the Emirates XI to an unlikely 14-run victory, defending a paltry total of 85.{{cite news|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/emirates-t20-arch-trophy-2009-10-449578/fly-emirates-xi-vs-sussex-final-449590/match-report|title=Emirates XI shock Sussex to take title|first=Mark|last=Pennell|date=21 March 2010|accessdate=5 December 2021|archive-date=5 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205072430/https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/emirates-t20-arch-trophy-2009-10-449578/fly-emirates-xi-vs-sussex-final-449590/match-report|url-status=live}} His final match for the UAE, against Canada, was during the ICC World Cricket League Championship in 2013.