Asia Cup 2023: Aasif Sheikh becomes 1st ever Nepal player to score fifty vs India in international cricket

Nepal opener Aasif Sheikh became the first ever Nepal player to score a half-century against India in international cricket. Sheikh, opening with Kushal Bhurtel provided Nepal with a positive start and added 65 runs for the first wicket inside the first 10 overs of the game.

Asia Cup 2023: IND vs NEP Live

After surviving three dropped chances in the first 5 overs of the game, both Bhurtel and Aasif broke the shackles and attacked the India pacers. Bhurtel, more aggressive of the two scored 38 off 25 balls before falling to Shardul Thakur.

Aasif, on the other hand, anchored the innings once the spinners came on and notched up a patient 58 off 96 balls before getting out to Mohammed Siraj.

At the time of writing, Nepal were 132/4 in a much better position than what many expected ahead of the match. The opening duo saw eye to eye with the Indian pacers and looked in menacing touch.

Who is Aasif Sheikh?

Born on January 22, 2001, Aasif Sheikh is right-handed wicketkeeper-batter. He made his debut for Nepal against the PNG in September 2021 and has since become a prominent fixture in the young Nepal side. Aasif’s career highlights include leading the Nepalese Under-19 team in the 2018 Quadrangular Cricket Tournament in India and being named the skipper of the Nepal national under-19 cricket team for the 2018 ACC Under-19 Asia Cup.

In the 2016 Everest Premier League, he scored an unbeaten 111 runs in the final, leading his team to their maiden EPL title. He was also the leading run-scorer of the tournament, scoring 202 runs in six matches at an average of 44.00. In the 2021 Prime Minister Cup, he was the second leading run-scorer, scoring 206 runs in five innings at an average of 41.20.

In March 2023, Sheikh scored his first century in ODIs during a match against Papua New Guinea. His sportsmanship was recognised when he won the 2022 ICC Spirit of Cricket Award for his decision not to run out Irish player Andy McBrine during a T20I fixture in February 2022. This act made him the first player from Nepal to win the ICC’s Spirit of Cricket Award.

Speaking on the moment for which he received the award, Sheikh said that it was a spontaneous decision as it would have been unfair to the batter.

“It’s an honour for me to receive this award, as my coaches always taught me to be humble and play within the Spirit of Cricket, the keeper was quoted as saying by the ICC website.

“Talking about the moment, it was a spontaneous decision on our part not to take the wicket as it would have been unfair to the batter. We wouldn’t have been pleased with a wicket in those circumstances as it would have been against our culture, and the Spirit of the sport,” the Nepal player concluded.