Aarif Sheikh
{{short description|Nepalese cricketer (born 1997)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Aarif Sheikh
आरिफ शेख
| image =
| country = Nepal
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|10|5|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Birgunj, Nepal
| heightft =
| heightinch =
| heightm =
| family = Aasif Sheikh (brother)
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Right-arm medium
| role = Batsman
| odishirt = 24
| T20Ishirt = 24
| international = true
| internationalspan = 2015–present
| odidebutdate = 1 August
| odidebutyear = 2018
| odidebutagainst = Netherlands
| odicap = 1
| lastodidate = 4 November
| lastodiyear = 2024
| lastodiagainst = Scotland
| T20Idebutdate = 29 July
| T20Idebutyear = 2018
| T20Idebutagainst = Netherlands
| lastT20Idate = 20 October
| lastT20Iyear = 2024
| lastT20Iagainst = USA
| T20Icap = 18
| club1 = APF
| year1 = 2015
| club2 = Panchakanya Tej
| year2 = 2016
| club3 = Bhairahawa Gladiators
| year3 = 2017–2021
| club4 = Nepal Police Club
| year4 = 2021–present
| club5 = Pokhara Avengers (Nepal T20)
| year5 = 2022–2023
| club6 = Sudurpaschim Royals
| year6 = 2024–present
| columns = 4
| column1 = ODI
| matches1 = 57
| runs1 = 1118
| bat avg1 = 26.61
| 100s/50s1 = 0/7
| top score1 = 66
| deliveries1 = 773
| wickets1 = 8
| bowl avg1 = 75.75
| fivefor1 = 0
| tenfor1 = 0
| best bowling1 = 1/9
| catches/stumpings1 = 26/–
| column2 = T20I
| matches2 = 41
| runs2 = 494
| bat avg2 = 19.00
| 100s/50s2 = 0/0
| top score2 = 39*
| deliveries2 = 96
| wickets2 = 4
| bowl avg2 = 33.00
| fivefor2 = –
| tenfor2 = –
| best bowling2 = 1/2
| catches/stumpings2 = 10/–
| column3 = FC
| matches3 = 1
| runs3 = 29
| bat avg3 = 14.50
| 100s/50s3 = 0/0
| top score3 = 19
| deliveries3 = 30
| wickets3 = 0
| bowl avg3 = –
| fivefor3 = –
| tenfor3 = –
| best bowling3 = –
| catches/stumpings3 = 10/–
| column4 = LA
| matches4 = 81
| runs4 = 1426
| bat avg4 = 21.93
| 100s/50s4 = 0/8
| top score4 = 66
| deliveries4 = 827
| wickets4 = 8
| bowl avg4 = 80.00
| fivefor4 = 0
| tenfor4 = 0
| best bowling4 = 1/9
| catches/stumpings4 = 32/–
| source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/aarif-sheikh-701217 ESNPcricinfo,
| date = 7 November 2024
| module = {{Infobox medal templates | titlestyle = background-color: lightsteelblue; | expand=yes
| medals = {{MedalCountry| {{NEP}}}}
{{MedalSport|Men's Cricket}}
{{MedalCompetition|South Asian Games}}
{{MedalBronze|2019 Kathmandu/Pokhara|Team}}
}}
}}
Aarif Sheikh ({{langx|ne|आरिफ शेख्}}; born 5 October 1997) is a Nepalese cricketer, who has been a former vice-captain of the Nepal under-19 cricket team, and currently plays for the senior team. Aarif is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium pace bowler.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/701217.html |title=Aarif Sheikh |access-date=24 October 2014 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}} He made his List A debut for Nepal in the 2015 ICC World Cricket League Division Two tournament against Namibia on 21 January 2015.{{Cite web |title=NAM vs NEP Cricket Scorecard at Windhoek, January 21, 2015 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-world-cricket-league-division-two-2014-15-812771/namibia-vs-nepal-812795/full-scorecard |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}} He was one of the eleven cricketers to play in Nepal's first ever One Day International (ODI) match, against the Netherlands, in August 2018.
His younger brother, Aasif Sheikh, also plays for the national team as a Wicket-keeper batter. Aarif has been known for guiding his younger brother as a mentor in their childhood. They have been playing together in the national team since 2021, mostly in ODI-Format of the game.
Career
=Early career=
Aarif first represented the Nepal Under-19s in the 2014 ACC Under-19 Asia Cupin December 2013. He scored 25 runs against Pakistan,{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/690593.html|title=3rd Match, Group A: Nepal Under-19s v Pakistan Under-19s at Dubai (CA), Dec 28, 2013 - Cricket Scorecard - ESPN Cricinfo|work=Cricinfo}} 40 runs against India{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/690599.html|title=6th Match, Group A: India Under-19s v Nepal Under-19s at Dubai (CA), Dec 29, 2013 - Cricket Scorecard - ESPN Cricinfo|work=Cricinfo}} and 48 runs against UAE{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/690611.html|title=12th Match, Group A: United Arab Emirates Under-19s v Nepal Under-19s at Sharjah, Dec 31, 2013 - Cricket Scorecard - ESPN Cricinfo|work=Cricinfo}} in the tournament.
In the national one day tournament held in Kathmandu, he was named Player of the Tournament where he scored a total of 261 runs with an average of 52.20 and picked up 11 wickets.{{cite web|url=http://cricnepal.com/nepal-cricket/birgunj-triumph-national-one-day-final/10451/|title=Birgunj triumph over APF in National One Day Final|work=Nepal Cricket|access-date=8 November 2014|archive-date=8 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108093747/http://cricnepal.com/nepal-cricket/birgunj-triumph-national-one-day-final/10451/|url-status=dead}}
Following his impressive performances in the national tournament, he was selected in the national squad for the 2014 ACC Premier League.{{cite web|url=http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=73357|title=Arif selected for ACC Premier League|work=myrepublica.com}} Playing his debut match for Nepal, he picked up 2 wickets against Hong Kong where he also bowled the Hong Kong captain Jamie Atkinson.{{cite web |title=11th Match: Hong Kong v Nepal at Kuala Lumpur, May 5, 2014 - Cricket Scorecard - ESPN Cricinfo |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/736517.html |work=Cricinfo}} He also picked up 2 wickets in the match against Afghanistan.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/736521.html|title=13th Match: Afghanistan v Nepal at Kuala Lumpur, May 7, 2014 - Cricket Scorecard - ESPN Cricinfo|work=Cricinfo}}
He went to India along with his teammate Karan KC in September 2014 for a 10-day training at Just Cricket Academy in Bangalore before participating in the 2014 ICC World Cricket League Division Three tournament.{{cite web|url=http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=83746|title=Arif, Karan to train in India|work=myrepublica.com}}
He represented Nepal Under-19s in the 2014 ACC Under-19 Premier League, where he was the second leading run scorer. He scored 190 runs in 5 innings at an average of 38.00.{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?id=9671;type=tournament |title=Cricket Records - Records - Asian Cricket Council Under-19 Premier League, 2014/15 - Most runs - ESPN Cricinfo |work=Cricinfo |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141206194236/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?id=9671%3Btype%3Dtournament |archive-date=6 December 2014 }} He made List A debut in 2015 ICC World Cricket League Division Two in Namibia in January 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/world-cricket-league-div2-2015/engine/match/812795.html|title=Scorecard of Namibia v Nepal, WCL Division Two 2015|work=Cricinfo}}
=2018-present=
He was a member of Nepal's squad for the 2018 ICC World Cricket League Division Two tournament.{{Cite web|url=http://www.myrepublica.com/news/35056/?categoryId=81 |title=Nepali Cricket team announced for Division 2 |access-date=25 January 2018 |work=My Republica}}
In July 2018, he was named in Nepal's squad for their One Day International (ODI) series against the Netherlands.{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/24129195/nepal-spinner-shakti-gauchan-retire-netherlands-tour |title=Nepal spinner Shakti Gauchan to retire after Netherlands tour |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=18 July 2018}} These were Nepal's first ODI matches since gaining ODI status during the 2018 Cricket World Cup Qualifier.{{Cite web |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/644459 |title=Nepal thrash PNG to secure ODI status |access-date=15 March 2018 |work=International Cricket Council}} He made his Twenty20 debut for Nepal in the 2018 MCC Tri-Nation Series against the Marylebone Cricket Club on 29 July 2018.{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1141834.html |title=2nd Match, Nepal tour of England and Netherlands at London, Jul 29 2018 |access-date=29 July 2018 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}} He made his Twenty20 International (T20I) on the same day, against the Netherlands.{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1141835.html |title=3rd Match, Nepal tour of England and Netherlands at London, Jul 29 2018 |access-date=29 July 2018 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}} He made his ODI debut for Nepal against the Netherlands on 1 August 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1151834.html |title=1st ODI, Nepal tour of England and Netherlands at Amstelveen, Aug 1 2018 |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=1 August 2018}}
In August 2018, he was named in Nepal's squad for the 2018 Asia Cup Qualifier tournament.{{cite web|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/sports/nepal-announce-squad-for-asia-cup-qualifier-fixtures-decided/ |title=Nepal announce squad for Asia Cup Qualifier, fixtures decided |work=The Himalayan |access-date=18 August 2018}} In October 2018, he was named in Nepal's squad in the Eastern sub-region group for the 2018–19 ICC World Twenty20 Asia Qualifier tournament.{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/869213 |title=Exciting battle on the cards in the ICC World T20 Asia Qualifier B in Malaysia |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=2 October 2018}}
He made his first-class debut on 6 November 2019, for Nepal against the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), during the MCC's tour of Nepal.{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1205548.html |title=Marylebone Cricket Club tour of Nepal at Kirtipur, Nov 6-8 2019 |access-date=6 November 2019 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}{{cite web|url=https://www.lords.org/mcc/mcc-cricket/overseas-tours |title=Overseas Tour |work=MCC |access-date=7 November 2019}} Later the same month, he was named in Nepal's squads for the 2019 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Bangladesh,{{cite web|url=http://dailylivescores.com/final-squad-announced-for-emerging-cup-khadka-and-lamichhane-miss-out|title=Final Squad Announced For Emerging Cup, Khadka and Lamichhane Miss Out|work=dailylivescores|access-date=11 November 2019}} and the men's cricket tournament at the 2019 South Asian Games.{{cite web|url=https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/lamichhane-to-miss-sag/ |title=Lamichhane to miss SAG |work=My Republica |access-date=30 November 2019}} The Nepal team won the bronze medal, after they beat the Maldives by five wickets in the third-place playoff match.{{cite web|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/sports/south-asian-games-bronze-for-nepal-in-mens-cricket/ |title=South Asian Games: Bronze for Nepal in men's cricket |work=The Himalayan Times |access-date=9 December 2019}} In September 2020, he was one of eighteen cricketers to be awarded with a central contract by the Cricket Association of Nepal.{{cite web|url=https://emergingcricket.com/news/central-contracts-nepal-women/ |title=Nepal: Women to receive inaugural central contracts, all cricketers to be insured |work=Emerging Cricket |access-date=23 September 2020}}
Franchise cricket
- Sudurpaschim Royals(NPL): In 2024, Sheikh has picked by Sudurpaschim Royals at the amount of Rs 15 Lakhs in Nepal Premier League
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{cricinfo|id=701217}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sheikh, Aarif}}
Category:Nepal One Day International cricketers
Category:21st-century Nepalese sportsmen
Category:Nepal Twenty20 International cricketers
Category:South Asian Games bronze medalists for Nepal