Having spent 19 years in the country since arriving in 1997, the batsman felt it was best to go back to his native homeland after his dreams of working with the national team following his retirement in August were not realised.
The 38-year-old, who made his international debut in 2006, has a vast amount of experience with 3,336 runs in 94 games in all formats, with his highest individual score being 195 against Ireland in an ICC Intercontinental Cup match in 2008.
And the former New Medical Centre (NMC) player is keen to make sure that the stars of tomorrow develop under his guidance.
“I have a plan that one day I want to start coaching young kids in Pakistan and teach them the valuable skills that I gained,” said Ali, who was named in the 2008 International Cricket Council (ICC) Intercontinental Cup Team of the Year.
“I have so much experience to give because I first played in Pakistan and then came to the UAE. I learned so many things here as I worked with different coaches, different management and that’s why I feel I’ve got enough in me to share with the young kids and help them develop. It’s still early days but it’s something I very much want to do.
“I would’ve liked to help the UAE team because this is a country where I spent half of my life and it’s very close to my heart. I had waited (for an opportunity to work with the UAE team) but unfortunately nothing happened.”
During his time in the UAE, Ali has had the honour of skippering the team at the 2008 Asia Cup, although he missed out on his dream of playing in the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Yet, he remains grateful to a country that saw him honoured by Dubai Cricket Council in January for his outstanding contribution.
Saqib Ali congratulates #UAE teammate @1_PAK, after he won ICC Associate Cricketer Of the Year. #ICCAwards #MCL2020 pic.twitter.com/r5ndPQIRLk
— Gemini Arabians (@ArabiansMCL) December 23, 2015
“There have been many ups and downs but overall it was a great experience and I will take great memories when I go back home. There was so much love from my fans and colleagues and that’s something I’ll always remember,” he said. “There are always some bad memories as well but that’s part of life, wherever you are in the world.”
One of the accolades he can look back on with great pride is a Masters Champions League (MCL) champions medal after being on the Gemini Arabians squad in the inaugural edition this past February.
Having shared the same dressing room with the likes of Kumar Sangakkara and Virender Sehwag, Ali insists it was a great experience and hopes to be part of the 2017 event.
“Let’s see. If I’m lucky to get a chance then of course I would love to play for Gemini again. We are the champions. It really was a great feeling to win,” he said.
“You just have to look and see the squad and see how many quality players there were. It was a real honour to be around them. They had so much knowledge of cricket and I learned so many things and it really helped me a lot.”
