Record-breaking UAE's budding cricketer Sharafu aims high
By K.R. Nayar
Seventeen-year-old Sharafu, who broke his own
record in the Emirates Cricket Board League Under-19 event aims to cement his
place in the UAE senior team and also eyes to play alongside international
cricketers in the Abu Dhabi T10 League
Ali Shan Sharafu
Ali Shan Sharafu was at the launch of the Ajman
T10 Talent Hunt League last Wednesday night. This 17-year-old, who is one of
the most promising UAE cricketers, came for the launch after breaking his own
record in the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) League Under-19 tournament.
In 2019, Sharafu had hit 151 runs to set a new
mark in this league. In this season, he bettered it by hitting 155 against
Maxtalent Academy. His knock contained 13 sixes, and his ton came off 59 balls
to shatter his own record.
In the Ajman T10 Talent Hunt League, he will be
playing for Pacific Goltay that is made up of budding cricketers, and he will
be aiming to put up a good show to be picked for the oncoming Abu Dhabi T10
league.
Sharafu is training hard at the Frontfoot Cricket
School Of Excellence to break more records. Pushing him to do better is UAE
opener Chirag Suri, who also coaches at this Academy. Sharafu's childhood coach
Obaid Hameed is also keeping a close watch on him.
Sharafu’s talent and consistency in school cricket
won him a place in the UAE senior team in the 2020 Western Region Asia Cup T20
Qualifiers in Muscat, Oman. In the five matches that he played, he could not
get to bat in the first match. But in the second he remained unbeaten, and
in the third, he was run out for 12. Armed with more scores from domestic
cricket, he now wants to create waves for the UAE national team, if picked.
Talking about setting the new record, Sharafu
said: “I’m extremely happy not just because of my record but that I am also
leading my academy with more responsibility now. Punya Mehra, who is my
opening partner, has been terrific, and we complement each other very well. I
want to keep knocking on the doors of the senior team and hopefully start
playing leagues around the world.”
Sharafu was just 15 when he played for the UAE
Under-19 team. He played in the Under-19 Asia Cup and Under-19 World Cup in
South Africa this year. UAE’s new coach Robin Singh, who has an eye for young
talent, gave him the opportunity to play for the senior team. “I want to work
harder and be a permanent member of the UAE team in all formats of the
game," said Sharafu, whose new record has helped him amass 282 runs in the
league this year.
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