[5][6] Ali made his representative international debut for the Afghanistan U-17 cricket team against the United Arab Emirates Under-17s in 2004.

[11] Ali opened the batting for the inexperienced Afghanistan team and scored a century on his first-class debut.

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.

Following the Intercontinental Cup victory, he made his full Twenty20 International debut against Ireland in the 2010 Quadrangular Twenty20 Series in Sri Lanka.

In April, Ali was a key member of Afghanistan's 2010 ACC Trophy Elite winning squad which defeated Nepal in the final.

[16] 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.

[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.