Aarif Sheikh, a 27-year-old all-rounder cricket player from Birjung, might have the captaincy for Nepal’s National Men’s Cricket Team. The right-handed batsman is the former vice-captain of the Nepal under-19 cricket team and plays for the senior team.
The Sudur Paschim Royals, a franchise team in the Nepal Premier League (NPL), drafted the Birjung-born for NPR 15 lakhs (NPR 1.5 million) in October 2024.
He joins notable players like Dipendra Singh Airee, Abinash Bohara, Binod Bhandari, and Naresh Budhayer in the NPL team.
Sheikh comes from a cricket-enthusiastic family, with two siblings already on the senior team. Aarif’s brother, Aasif, has set several records playing for the Rhinos on the international stage.
The 27-year-old relocated to Kathmandu, where he completed his bachelor’s and started his professional career as a cricket player.
Sheikh has extensive experience, and his contribution to the national team has been essential to its recent success. This hints that the all-rounder who won bronze in the 2019 South Asian Games will soon captain the national team.
Key Takeaways:
- Aarif Sheikh is a 27-year-old all-round cricket player from Birjung who represents Nepal in international cricket.
- Shiekh plays for the Sudur Paschim Royals after being drafted in October earlier this year.
- Aarif earns NPR 70,000 from CAN every month as a Grade B player.
- Shiekh has a younger brother named Aasif Shiekh, who also plays for Nepal’s National Men’s Cricket Team.
Aarif Sheikh, A Native of Birjung, Relocated to the Capital for His Studies
Aarif Sheikh was born into a Muslim family in Birjung. His brother, Aasif Sheikh, also plays for Nepal’s national team.
He spent much of his early life in his hometown before moving to Kathmandu, where he pursued his studies at GoldenGate International College. Likewise, he played cricket for the GoldenGate International College in the SPA Cup, which started his beautiful career.
Sheikh’s family is a cricket lover—he once posted a picture of his family enjoying a match in their hometown on his Instagram.
Aarif spends a healthy amount of time with his younger brother Aasif, a wicketkeeper for Nepal. He is always seen with his younger sibling on Eid and other significant holidays. For instance, they celebrated the recent EID in the Hyatt Residency.
The 27-year-old has been a massive inspiration for his younger brother, Aasif. They played cricket together growing up, and Aarif mentored his sibling as one of the best batsmen in the squad.
Moreover, Aasif also showed his wicket-keeping potential, making him a favorite in Monty Desai’s list of wicket-keepers.
His brother, Aarif, plays as a right-handed batsman and wicketkeeper for the NPL team Janakpur Bolts alongside Hemant Dhami, Lalit Rajbansi, and Anil Sah.
Previously, the younger Sheikh brother used to play for the Pokhara Paltan in the Pokhara Premier League alongside Kushal Bhurtel, Rohit Poudel, and Kushal Malla.
In April 2021, he played his first Twenty20 International match for Nepal against the Netherlands. In addition, he is the only Nepalese player to have more than ten ODI cricket half-centuries—12, to be exact.
Sheikh Started His Cricket Career While Playing At College
Sheikh started playing for the GoldenGate International College in the SPA Cup.
He made his debut for Nepal against Hong Kong in May 2014.
In December 2013, Aarif debuted for the Nepal Under-19s at the 2014 ACC Under-19 Asia Cup. During the tournament, he amassed 25 runs against Pakistan, 40 against India, and 48 against the UAE.
Furthermore, he was named Player of the competition after scoring 261 runs at an average of 52.20 and taking 11 wickets in the national one-day competition played in Kathmandu.
After solid performances in the national tournament, he was included in the national team for the 2014 ACC Premier League. In his first game for Nepal, he bowled Hong Kong captain Jamie Atkinson and took two wickets against Hong Kong. He also took two wickets in the match against Afghanistan.
Before competing in the 2014 ICC World Cricket League Division Three event, he and his partner Karan KC traveled to India in September 2014 for a 10-day training session at Bangalore’s Just Cricket Academy.
He was the second-leading run scorer for Nepal Under-19s in the 2014 ACC Under-19 Premier League. In five innings, he accumulated 190 runs at an average of 38.00. In January 2015, he made his List A debut in Namibia’s Division Two of the 2015 ICC World Cricket League.
Likewise, the Birjung-born played in Nepal’s first-ever One Day International (ODI) match against the Netherlands as one of eleven cricket players in August 2018.
Read More: Rijan Dhakal, A Young Cricketer From Hetauda, Is the Next Big Thing In Nepali Cricket
Aarif Bagged Bronze in the 2019 South Asian Cup Tournament
Sheikh participated in the 2018 ICC World Cricket League Division Two competition from the Nepalese Squad.
He was selected for Nepal’s One Day International (ODI) series against the Netherlands in July 2018. Likewise, after being granted ODI status during the 2018 Cricket World Cup qualifier, these were Nepal’s first ODI matches.
On July 29, 2018, he made his Twenty20 debut for Nepal against the Marylebone Cricket Club in the 2018 MCC Tri-Nation Series. On the same day, he played his first Twenty20 International (T20I) against the Netherlands. Likewise, he played his first ODI for Nepal against the Netherlands on August 1, 2018.
He was included in Nepal’s squad for the 2018 Asia Cup qualifier. Likewise, the 27-year-old was selected to play for Nepal in the Eastern sub-region group of the 2018–19 ICC World Twenty20 Asia Qualifier competition in October 2018.
One of his career highlights must be participating in the South Asian Cup. He was included in Nepal’s squads for the men’s cricket competition at the 2019 South Asian Games and the 2019 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Bangladesh later that same month.
The Nepali team took bronze after defeating the Maldives by five wickets in the third-place playoff match.
In September 2020, he was among eighteen cricket players who received central contracts from the Cricket Association of Nepal.
See More: What Is Nepalese Cricketer Sagar Dhakal’s Age? Family Background And Cricket Achievements
How Much Does Aarif Sheikh Earn as a Grade B Player?
As a grade B player, Aarif Sheikh earns NPR 70,000 monthly from the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN).
However, this is not his total earnings, as he plays for several clubs in domestic and national tournaments and leagues. For instance, he was drafted by the Sudur Paschim Royals earlier this month. In addition, he represented the Armed Police Force (APF) in the One Day Prime Minister Cup.
Furthermore, he has also played for teams like the Pokhara Avengers.
The 27-year-old supposedly earns a decent amount, considering the number of brand deals he has been signing lately. For instance, Shiekh has a brand endorsement deal with Techni Mobile, which he signed with several other players from the National squad.
Likewise, he has contracts with Vianet, Sipradi, and Playr VIP, all of which contribute to his net worth.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, Aarif Shiekh is not married. He has not opened up about his relationship in public.
Aarif Shiekh plays for the Sudur Paschim Royals and Armed Police Force (APF).
Aarif Shiekh has an estimated net worth of over NPR 50 lakhs from his position as a grade B player.
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Bidhya Sagar Shrestha is an experienced content writer with a solid content creation and digital marketing background. His majors in entrepreneurship and marketing give him a deep understanding of business environments and marketing strategies.
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