Ajay Kumar at 13:49, 20 August 2023

2023-08-20T13:49:16Z

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{{short description|Nepalese cricketer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Aarif Sheikh
| 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 (cricketer)|Aasif Sheikh]] (brother)
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Right-arm [[Fast bowling|medium]]
| role = [[Batsman]]

| international = true
| internationalspan = 2018–present

| odidebutdate = 1 August
| odidebutyear = 2018
| odidebutagainst = Netherlands
| odicap = 1
| lastodidate = 2 July
| lastodiyear = 2023
| lastodiagainst = UAE

| T20Idebutdate = 29 July
| T20Idebutyear = 2018
| T20Idebutagainst = Netherlands
| lastT20Idate = 29 August
| lastT20Iyear = 2022
| lastT20Iagainst = Kenya
| T20Icap = 18

| club1 = [[APF Club|APF]]
| year1 = 2015–2015
| club2 = GoldenGate
| year2 = 2015–2015
| club3 = Birgunj
| year3 = 2014–2014

| columns = 4
| column1 = [[One Day International|ODI]]
| matches1 = 38
| runs1 = 871
| bat avg1 = 25.25
| 100s/50s1 = 0/6
| top score1 = 66
| deliveries1 = 585
| wickets1 = 6
| bowl avg1 = 73.66
| fivefor1 = 0
| tenfor1 = 0
| best bowling1 = 1/16
| catches/stumpings1 = 17/–
| column2 = [[Twenty20 International|T20I]]
| matches2 = 31
| runs2 = 405
| bat avg2 = 21.31
| 100s/50s2 = 0/0
| top score2 = 39[[Not out|*]]
| deliveries2 = 72
| wickets2 = 3
| bowl avg2 = 26.33
| fivefor2 = –
| tenfor2 = –
| best bowling2 = –
| catches/stumpings2 = 10/–
| column3 = [[First-class cricket|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 = 0/–
| column4 = [[List A cricket|LA]]
| matches4 = 65
| runs4 = 1116
| bat avg4 = 21.05
| 100s/50s4 = 0/4
| top score4 = 66
| deliveries4 = 639
| wickets4 = 6
| bowl avg4 = 79.33
| fivefor4 = 0
| tenfor4 = 0
| best bowling4 = 1/16
| catches/stumpings4 = 23/–
| source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/aarif-sheikh-701217 ESNPcricinfo,
| date = 18 June 2023
| module = {{Infobox medal templates | titlestyle = background-color: lightsteelblue; | expand=yes
| medals = {{MedalCountry| {{NEP}}}}
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Cricket]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[South Asian Games]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2019 South Asian Games|2019 Kathmandu/Pokhara]]|[[Cricket at the 2019 South Asian Games – Men's tournament|Team]]}}
}}
}}

'''Aarif Sheikh''' ({{lang-ne|आरिफ शेख्}}; born 5 October 1997) is a Nepalese [[cricket]]er, who was the [[Captain (cricket)|vice-captain]] of the [[Nepal national under-19 cricket team]], and currently plays for the senior team. [[All-rounder]] Aarif is a right-handed [[batsman]] and a right-arm [[Fast bowling|medium pace]] [[Bowler (cricket)|bowler]].<ref name="Cricinfo">{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/701217.html |title=Aarif Sheikh |access-date=24 October 2014 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}</ref> He made his debut for [[Nepal national cricket team|Nepal]] against [[Hong Kong national cricket team|Hong Kong]] in May 2014.<ref name="espncricinfo.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/736517.html|title=11th Match: Hong Kong v Nepal at Kuala Lumpur, May 5, 2014 - Cricket Scorecard - ESPN Cricinfo|work=Cricinfo}}</ref>

He represents the [[APF Club]] of the [[National League Cricket (Nepal)|National League]] and GoldenGate International College, which plays in the [[SPA Cup]]. He was one of the eleven cricketers to play in Nepal's first ever [[One Day International]] (ODI) match, against the [[Netherlands national cricket team|Netherlands]], in August 2018.

His younger brother, Aasif Sheikh, has played for the Nepal under-19 cricket team. Aarif has been known for guiding his younger brother as a mentor in their childhood. In the final of the [[2016 Everest Premier League]], Aasif scored 111[[not out|*]] eventually helping his team [[Panchakanya Tej]] to win the title.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.onlinekhabar.com/aasif-sheik-dream-play-national-side-dai-end.html|title=Aasif Sheikh: Dream is to play for national side, with dai at other end|access-date=15 October 2019|work=Onlinekhabar}}</ref>

==Career==
===Early career===
Aarif first represented [[Nepal national under-19 cricket team|Nepal Under-19s]] in the 2014 ACC Under-19 Asia Cup in December 2013. He scored 25 runs against [[Pakistan national under-19 cricket team|Pakistan]],<ref>{{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}}</ref> 40 runs against [[India national under-19 cricket team|India]]<ref>{{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}}</ref> and 48 runs against [[United Arab Emirates national under-19 cricket team|UAE]]<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

Following his impressive performances in the national tournament, he was selected in the national squad for the [[2014 ACC Premier League]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> Playing his debut match for Nepal, he picked up 2 wickets against [[Hong Kong national cricket team|Hong Kong]] where he also [[bowled]] the Hong Kong captain [[Jamie Atkinson]].<ref name="espncricinfo.com"/> He also picked up 2 wickets in the match against [[Afghanistan national cricket team|Afghanistan]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

He represented [[Nepal national under-19 cricket team|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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> He made [[List A cricket|List A]] debut in [[2015 ICC World Cricket League Division Two]] in [[Namibia]] in January 2015.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

===2018-present===
In January 2018, he was named in Nepal's squad for the [[2018 ICC World Cricket League Division Two]] tournament.<ref name="NepalWCL2">{{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}}</ref>

In July 2018, he was named in Nepal's squad for their [[One Day International]] (ODI) series [[Nepalese cricket team in the Netherlands in 2018|against the Netherlands]].<ref name="NepSquad">{{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}}</ref> These were Nepal's first ODI matches since gaining ODI status during the [[2018 Cricket World Cup Qualifier]].<ref name="NepalODI">{{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}}</ref> He made his [[Twenty20]] debut for Nepal in the [[2018 MCC Tri-Nation Series]] against the [[Marylebone Cricket Club]] on 29 July 2018.<ref name="T20">{{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}}</ref> He made his [[Twenty20 International]] (T20I) on the same day, against the [[Netherlands national cricket team|Netherlands]].<ref name="T20I">{{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}}</ref> He made his ODI debut for Nepal against the [[Netherlands national cricket team|Netherlands]] on 1 August 2018.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

In August 2018, he was named in Nepal's squad for the [[2018 Asia Cup Qualifier]] tournament.<ref name="NepACQ">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

He made his [[first-class cricket|first-class]] debut on 6 November 2019, for [[Nepal national cricket team|Nepal]] against the [[Marylebone Cricket Club]] (MCC), during the MCC's tour of Nepal.<ref name="FC">{{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}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lords.org/mcc/mcc-cricket/overseas-tours |title=Overseas Tour |work=MCC |access-date=7 November 2019}}</ref> Later the same month, he was named in Nepal's squads for the [[2019 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup]] in Bangladesh,<ref>{{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}}</ref> and the [[Cricket at the 2019 South Asian Games – Men's tournament|men's cricket tournament]] at the [[2019 South Asian Games]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> The Nepal team won the bronze medal, after they beat the Maldives by five wickets in the third-place playoff match.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In September 2020, he was one of eighteen cricketers to be awarded with a central contract by the [[Cricket Association of Nepal]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{cricinfo|id=701217}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sheikh, Aarif}}
[[Category:1997 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Nepalese cricketers]]
[[Category:Nepal One Day International cricketers]]
[[Category:Nepal Twenty20 International cricketers]]
[[Category:People from Birgunj]]
[[Category:South Asian Games bronze medalists for Nepal]]
[[Category:South Asian Games medalists in cricket]]

Aarif Sheikh - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 13:49, 20 August 2023