Alishan Sharafu

Alishan Sharafu, born on January 10, 2003, in Kerala, India, is a right-handed batting all-rounder who represents the United Arab Emirates national cricket team. He made his T20 International debut on February 23, 2020, and his One-Day International debut on January 8, 2021. Sharafu quickly rose through the ranks after impressive performances for the UAE Under-19 team, including a Man of the Match-winning unbeaten 59 in the 2020 Under-19 Cricket World Cup plate semi-final against Nigeria. He was subsequently appointed captain of the UAE Under-19 team for the 2022 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

At the senior level, Sharafu is known for his aggressive batting in the middle order and handy right-arm medium-pace bowling. In international cricket, he has gained recognition for his consistent performances, notably as the leading scorer for the UAE in the 2024 ACC Premier Cup, contributing to their qualification for the Asia Cup 2025. In franchise cricket, Sharafu has been a key player for the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the International League T20, scoring crucial runs and winning Player of the Match honors in the 2025 season. Standing at 5 feet 8 inches tall, he is regarded as a young, dynamic talent with a bright future in UAE cricket.