As Sanju Samson waits for chance to bat, another Malayali opener scores fifty in Asia Cup | UAE Cricket
Published: September 15, 2025 08:09 PM IST
Updated: September 15, 2025 10:15 PM IST
2 minute Read
UAE’s Alishan Sharafu plays a shot during the Asia Cup match against Oman at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on September 15, 2025. Photo: AFP/ Fadel Senna
A Malayali has scored a fifty in the Asia Cup while cricket fans in Kerala wait for Sanju Samson to get an opportunity to bat with Team India.
Alishan Sharafu, the Malayali opener representing the UAE, scored 51 off 38 balls against Oman in Abu Dhabi on Monday. The 22-year-old right-hander hit seven boundaries and a six as he forged an 88-run opening stand with captain Muhammad Waseem (69) to help the UAE post a solid total of 172/5. UAE won the match by 42 runs after dismissing Oman for 130, with Junaid Siddique taking 4/23.
Sharafu targeted Shah Faisal with a four through the covers, then hit the left-arm pacer for a pair of boundaries an over later. He hit pacer Hassnain Shah for a hat-trick of fours, bringing up 50 for the UAE in the powerplay. He hammered leg-spinner Samay Shrivastava for a six, with an inside-out shot over cover.
UAE’s Alishan Sharafu (right) and India’s wicketkeeper Sanju Samson during the Asia Cup match in Dubai on September 10, 2025. Photo: Reuters/Satish Kumar
Sharafu was the top scorer for the UAE with 22 runs in their opener against India on September 10. The UAE were bundled out for 57 and India registered a 9-wicket win in just 4.3 overs.
In his brief stay in the middle, he had found boundaries against Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah, before being castled by the latter with a fine yorker.
Sharafu is the only Malayali in the UAE squad, with roots in Pazhayangadi in the Kannur district.
He began his cricket journey in Dubai at 10 and went on to captain UAE U-19s. He was part of the senior side that defeated Bangladesh in a T20 cricket match in Sharjah in May. It was the Emirates cricket team’s first victory over a Test-playing nation. At 17, Sharafu smashed the first century in the UAE’s T10 league, when he hit 146 off 42, clubbing 14 sixes and 11 boundaries to break Chris Lynn’s T10 record of 91 off 30.
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