Sharjah. Alishan Sharafu, the 22-year-old UAE batter, who played a valiant and crucial unbeaten knock of 68 to secure a seven-wicket win, and thus a 2-1 series victory over Bangladesh, carries with him a maturity far beyond his age. Unfazed by the daunting task of beating a Test-playing nation, he crafted his 47-ball innings with composure, laced with five boundaries and three sixes. Despite Bangladesh mounting pressure, Sharafu showed nerves of steel, striking the winning boundary off the first ball of the final over.
Having followed his journey from school cricket and reported on many of his early matches, it is now clear that Sharafu is on the path to a long and glorious career in UAE cricket. He is someone who idolizes the greats, studies them closely, and strives to emulate their success — and this performance was a testament to that dedication.
When Sharafu was scoring prolifically in junior cricket, I spoke to him about his aspirations in 2018. At the time, he used to idolise South Africa’s AB de Villiers and said, “De Villiers is my hero. Like him, I too love to bat displaying all my strokes.” This was shortly after he played a whirlwind knock in the Maxtalent Global Sports Vision Cup inter-school Under-15 tournament, where he scored a 100 in just 36 balls — his fifty coming off only 14!
By 2021, Sharafu had risen to become the UAE Under-19 skipper. I spoke to him again then, and he had now shifted his focus to imbibing the traits of India’s then-skipper, Virat Kohli. He remarked, “Kohli is a fighter who lifts his team out of very tough situations and gets them over the line. This is what I enjoy doing too.” Sharafu, who may one day lead the UAE senior national team, has already proven his ability to thrive under pressure — especially against a formidable Bangladesh bowling attack.
Though born in Kerala, Sharafu rose through the ranks in the UAE, making his mark in every age group. From the very beginning in school cricket, he showed promise. He became the only player in the country to be selected for the UAE Under-16, Under-19, and men’s T20 team — all by the age of 15. By 17, he had earned a part-time contract from the Emirates Cricket Board.
In 2022, I was in awe as he smashed 113 off just 30 balls for Future Mattress against JVC Stallions in the CBFS T20 tournament at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. As the commentator for that match, I genuinely ran out of adjectives to describe the knock. He hammered 15 sixes and three boundaries. When he was dismissed with the team’s score on 149, he had scored 113 of those runs himself.
Sharafu doesn’t concern himself with the reputation of bowlers once he finds his rhythm. In 2024, I had reported on his unbeaten 87 off 47 balls for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders against Desert Vipers in the Abu Dhabi T10 tournament. He had smashed 11 boundaries and four sixes, securing a six-wicket win against a bowling lineup featuring international stars like Wanindu Hasaranga, Mohammad Amir, and Shadab Khan.
Sharafu was among the few players from the Middle East to be listed in the 2025 Indian Premier League auction. He would have been a great asset to any team. With more performances like the one against Bangladesh, an IPL debut is surely not far away.
Sharafu credits his consistency to UAE coach and former Indian opener, Lalchand Rajput. He believes the coach has instilled confidence and positivity in him. In an exclusive interview for cricketlovers.com, when asked about his knock against Bangladesh, Sharafu said, “It was one of my good knocks for the UAE because I batted making sure I didn’t get carried away and stayed positive throughout.” His resilience and poise under pressure are bound to bring more glory to UAE cricket.
