| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alishan Sharafu | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (2003-01-10) 10 January 2003 Kanhangad, Kerala, India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm fast-medium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Batting all-rounder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side |
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| ODI debut (cap 88) | 8 January 2021 v Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last ODI | 5 November 2025 v Nepal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T20I debut (cap 51) | 23 February 2020 v Iran | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last T20I | 16 November 2025 v Nepal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: ESPNcricinfo, 1 January 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alishan Sharafu (born 10 January 2003) is a cricketer who plays for the United Arab Emirates national cricket team and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the International League T20 (ILT20).[1][2]
Early life and education
Alishan Sharafu was born on 10 January 2003 in Kanhangad, Kerala, India. He spent his early life in the UAE.[3] His interest in cricket began during childhood visits to Kerala, India, and India's win in the 2011 Cricket World Cup inspired him to play cricket as a professional.[3]
Sharafu holds a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity.[3]
Career
Sharafu represented the UAE at the Under-16 and Under-19 levels, beginning at age 15.[3]
In 2020, Sharafu was named in the United Arab Emirates squad for the 2020 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.[4] In their plate semi-final match against Nigeria, Sharafu scored an unbeaten 59 runs and was named the man of the match.[5][6] He made his Twenty20 International (T20I) debut on 23 February 2020, against Iran, in the 2020 ACC Western Region T20 tournament.[7]
In December 2020, Sharafu was one of ten cricketers to be awarded a year-long part-time contract by the Emirates Cricket Board.[8] In January 2021, he was named in the UAE's One Day International (ODI) squad to play against Ireland.[9][10] He made his ODI debut against Ireland, on 8 January 2021.[11] However, the following day he tested positive for COVID-19, resulting in the next ODI match being rescheduled.[12]
In January 2022, Sharafu was named as the captain of the UAE team for the 2022 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies.[13]
In 2024, Sharafu joined the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders after being identified at a trial and played in the ILT20.[3]
References
- ^ "Alishan Sharafu". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- ^ "Alishan Sharafu aces every test to emerge as future star of UAE batting". The National. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Kishore, Shashank (14 September 2025). "Alishan Sharafu is learning from the best and using it to make UAE better".
- ^ "ECB announce team to represent the UAE in ICC U19 CWC 2020". Emirates Cricket Board. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
- ^ "13th Place Play-off Semi-Final, Potchefstroom, Jan 30 2020, ICC Under-19 World Cup". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- ^ "Akhil Kumar, Nicholas Manohar dismantle Japan Under-19s". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- ^ "1st Match, Group B, Al Amarat, Feb 23 2020, ACC Western Region T20". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- ^ "Rameez Shahzad omitted from latest list of centrally contracted UAE cricketers". The National. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
- ^ "Emirates Cricket Board announce team to play Ireland in 4-ODI series". Emirates Cricket Board. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ "We felt like we gained a lot from the IPL, says UAE captain Ahmed Raza". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- ^ "1st ODI, Abu Dhabi, Jan 8 2021, Ireland tour of United Arab Emirates". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ "Alishan Sharafu third UAE player to test positive for Covid-19". The National. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- ^ "Emirates Cricket Board announce team to compete in ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2022". Emirates Cricket Board. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
External links
- Alishan Sharafu at ESPNcricinfo
