Abu Dhabi, Sept. 15 -- UAE batter Alishan Sharafu, who lived majority of his life in UAE and found his love for cricket in his birthplace of Kerala, admitted that his first memory of cricket was supporting India and Sachin Tendulkar during the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, when Men in Blue brought the cup home after 28 years and this marked the beginning of his passion for cricket.

The 22-year-old, who made his international debut in 2020, has played 54 T20Is for the UAE, scoring 1,271 runs at an average of 30.26, with a strike rate of 132.94, with nine half-centuries in 50 innings and a best score of 90*. His 17-ball 22, with three fours and a six, was the sole show of aggression from the UAE side as they were bundled out for 57 runs agai...