Sarfaraz Ali
{{short description|Bahraini cricketer}}
{{similar names|Sarfraz Ali (disambiguation){{!}}Sarfraz Ali}}
{{use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Sarfaraz Ali
| image =
| country = Bahrain
| fullname = Sarfaraz Ali
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|10|21|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Karachi, Pakistan
| heightft =
| heightinch =
| heightm =
| batting = Right-handed
| role = Top-order batsman
| hidedeliveries =
| international = true
| T20Idebutdate = 19 January
| T20Idebutyear = 2019
| T20Idebutagainst = Saudi Arabia
| T20Icap = 9
| lastT20Idate = 3 November
| lastT20Iyear = 2023
| lastT20Iagainst = Oman
| columns = 2
| column1 = T20I
| matches1 = 17
| runs1 = 569
| bat avg1 = 35.56
| 100s/50s1 = 0/4
| top score1 = 69*
| deliveries1 = 267
| wickets1 = 8
| bowl avg1 = 38.62
| fivefor1 = –
| tenfor1 = –
| best bowling1 = 2/20
| catches/stumpings1 = 4/–
| column2 = T20
| matches2 = 17
| runs2 = 569
| bat avg2 = 35.56
| 100s/50s2 = 0/4
| top score2 = 69*
| deliveries2 = 267
| wickets2 = 8
| bowl avg2 = 38.62
| fivefor2 = –
| tenfor2 = –
| best bowling2 = 2/20
| catches/stumpings2 = 4/–
| date = 31 October 2023
| source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/sarfaraz-ali-1172124 ESPNCricinfo
}}
Sarfaraz Ali (born 20 October 1981) is a Pakistani-born cricketer who plays for the Bahrain national cricket team and currently captains the national team in Twenty20 Internationals.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/sarfaraz-ali-1172124 |website=ESPN Cricinfo |title=Sarfaraz Ali profile and biography, stats, records, averages, photos and videos |access-date=22 February 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/players/110708-sarfaraz-thulla-playerprofile |website=NDTV Sports |title=Sarfaraz Ali - Cricket Player, Bahrain - NDTV Sports |access-date=22 February 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://wisden.com/players/sarfaraz-ali |website=Wisden |date=10 February 2022 |title=Sarfaraz Ali - Wisden |access-date=22 February 2022}}
Career
Ali debuted internationally for the Bahraini cricket team on 20 January 2019, against Saudi Arabia in the opening game of the 2019 ACC Western Region T20, in which he was awarded man-of-the-match for his performance.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/acc-western-region-t20-2018-19-1171739/bahrain-vs-saudi-arabia-1st-match-1171752/live-cricket-score |website=ESPNcricinfo |title=Bahrain beat Saudi Arabia - Bahrain won by 41 runs - Bahrain vs Saudi Arabia, ACC Western Region T20, 1st Match Match Summary, Report |access-date=23 February 2022}} He went on to score 141 runs at an average of 35.25 throughout the tournament and took no additional wickets.{{cite web|url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/averages/batting_bowling_by_team.html?id=12844;team=108;type=tournament |website=ESPNcricinfo |title=ACC Western Region T20, 2018/19 - Bahrain Cricket Team Records & Stats |access-date=23 February 2022}}
He was then selected to play in the 2020 ACC Western Region T20,{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/524971220926532/posts/2738347142922251/ |title=Bahrain Squad for Asian Cricket Council T20 Western Region to be held in Oman from 21st to 28th Feb 2020 |work=Bahrain Cricket Association (via Facebook) |access-date=23 February 2022}} in which Ali scored 112 runs and took 2 wickets throughout the tournament.{{cite web|url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/averages/batting_bowling_by_team.html?id=13594;team=108;type=tournament |website=ESPNcricinfo |title=ACC Western Region T20, 2019/20 - Bahrain Cricket Team Records & Stats |access-date=23 February 2022}} He led the team to the semi-finals of the tournament,{{cite web |url=http://www.asiancricket.org/index.php/tournaments/acc-mens-western-region-2020/3477 |title=Day 3: Bahrain face Kuwait in semis after incredible win, UAE take on Qatar in second semifinal |work=Asian Cricket Council |access-date=24 February 2022}} but lost to Kuwait in a crushing 87-run loss.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/acc-western-region-t20-2019-20-1215141/bahrain-vs-kuwait-1st-semi-final-1215163/live-cricket-score |website=ESPNcricinfo |title=Kuwait beat Bahrain - Kuwait won by 87 runs - Kuwait vs Bahrain, ACC Western Region T20, 1st Semi-Final Match Summary, Report |access-date=24 February 2022}}
Ali didn't play for the rest of 2020 and the majority of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ali returned to cricket by playing in the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier. His team came out as the champions,{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2312610 |date=28 October 2021 |website=International Cricket Council |title=Title race hots up as Bahrain bat out Saudi Arabia |access-date=24 February 2022}} with Ali scoring 159 runs and taking a wicket during the tournament.{{cite web|url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/averages/batting_bowling_by_team.html?id=14306;team=108;type=tournament |website=ESPNcricinfo |title=ICC Men's T20 World Cup Asia A Qualifier, 2021/22 - Bahrain Cricket Team Records & Stats |access-date=24 February 2022}} He then went on to captain the team{{cite web|url=https://www.gdnonline.com/Details/1031530/Bahrain-aim-to-beat-the-best?fbclid=IwAR07rlubrwQsIrT2L1ivN5_J07y24XaNbUpB8HX-o-sBwYz6XvbdKG1SvxI |website=Gulf Daily News |date=2 February 2022 |title=Cricket: Bahrain aim to beat the best |access-date=24 February 2022}} in the 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Global Qualifier A, in which Bahrain placed 6th in, after being beaten by the Canadians in the 5th place play-offs.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-men-s-t20-world-cup-qualifier-a-2021-22-1299556/bahrain-vs-canada-5th-place-play-off-1299582/full-scorecard |website=ESPNcricinfo |title=Canada beat Bahrain Canada won by 7 wickets (with 33 balls remaining) - Bahrain vs Canada, ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier A, 5th Place Play-Off Match Summary, Report |access-date=24 February 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/associate-brigade-look-to-deny-ireland-at-t20-world-cup-qualifier-1301627 |first=Peter Della |last=Penna |date=17 February 2022 |website=ESPNcricinfo |title=Associate brigade look to deny Ireland at T20 World Cup Qualifier |access-date=24 February 2022}} Bahrain played valiantly, eventually just nearly missing the semi-finals on net run rate to the United Arab Emirates.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/icc-t20-world-cup-2022-qualifiers-uae-ireland-seal-semi-final-spots-nepal-oman-progress-1302154 |website=ESPNcricinfo |date=21 February 2022 |first=Peter Della |last=Penna |title=UAE, Ireland seal semi-final spots from Group A; Nepal, Oman progress from Group B |access-date=24 February 2022}} Ali scored 157 runs and took 3 wickets during the qualifier.{{cite web|url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/averages/batting_bowling_by_team.html?id=14456;team=108;type=tournament |website=ESPNcricinfo |title=ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier A, 2021/22 - Bahrain Cricket Team Records & Stats |access-date=24 February 2022}}