Aarif Sheikh Profile
All-Rounder
Composed Nepal middle-order batter and three-time retained Sudurpaschim Royals core player.
Aarif Sheikh is a Nepali cricketer born on 4/5 October 1997 in Birgunj. A right-handed middle-order batsman and right-arm medium pacer, he made his ODI debut in Nepal's first-ever ODI in 2018. He plays for Sudurpaschim Royals in the Nepal Premier League and was named in Nepal's 2026 T20 World Cup squad.
Career Highlights
Key numbers
Aarif Sheikh is one of Nepal's most dependable middle-order batters — a calm, technically sound right-hander who has quietly built one of the more consistent international batting records among Associate-nation cricketers. He was part of Nepal's historic first-ever ODI in 2018, has crossed 1,400 ODI runs, and remains a core member of Sudurpaschim Royals in NPL Season 3. He is also the elder brother of Nepal's first-choice wicketkeeper, Aasif Sheikh.
Player Profile
Cricket Career
Playing Style
Aarif Sheikh is best known as a composed anchor in Nepal's middle order — a batter who prioritises building an innings over early aggression. Multiple cricket outlets describe him as a calm, consistent presence who often steadies the innings after early wickets, a role reflected in his relatively high ODI average compared with his strike rate.
As a bowler, he offers right-arm medium pace as a fifth-bowling option rather than a strike weapon. In franchise cricket, he has settled into a middle-order stabilising role for Sudurpaschim Royals, retained in all three editions of the NPL since 2024 alongside captain Dipendra Singh Airee.
Early Career
Aarif Sheikh progressed through Nepal's age-group system, representing the Nepal Under-19 team from December 2013 at the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup and later serving as the Nepal U-19 side's vice-captain. In 2014, he travelled to Bangalore, India, with teammate Karan KC for a training stint at the Just Cricket Academy ahead of the ICC World Cricket League Division Three tournament.
Domestic Career
He made his List A debut for Nepal on 21 January 2015 against Namibia at the ICC World Cricket League Division Two tournament, and his first-class debut came on 6 November 2019, against the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) during their tour of Nepal. He has also represented multiple domestic sides in Nepal, including Nepal Police Club and Biratnagar Super Kings.
International Career
Aarif Sheikh made his T20I debut on 29 July 2018 against the MCC in the MCC Tri-Nation Series, followed by his ODI debut on 1 August 2018 against the Netherlands — Nepal's first-ever Official ODI. He was part of the Nepal squad that won bronze at the 2019 South Asian Games.
In September 2020, he received a central contract from the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN). In January 2026 he was named in Nepal's squad for the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
Franchise Career (Nepal Premier League)
Since the launch of the Nepal Premier League in 2024, Aarif Sheikh has been a fixture in the Sudurpaschim Royals middle order. The Royals reached the final in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons, losing on both occasions. He has been retained by Sudurpaschim Royals for all three seasons (2024, 2025, and 2026).
Captaincy Record
He does not currently captain any team at international or franchise level.
Career Timeline
- December 2013 — Represents Nepal U-19 at the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup.
- 21 January 2015 — List A debut vs Namibia.
- 29 July 2018 — T20I debut vs MCC.
- 1 August 2018 — ODI debut vs Netherlands — Nepal's first-ever ODI.
- November 2019 — 2019 South Asian Games bronze medal with Nepal.
- September 2020 — Awarded central contract by CAN.
- 2024 — Retained by Sudurpaschim Royals for inaugural NPL season; Royals finish runners-up.
- 2025 — Retained for NPL Season 2; Royals finish runners-up again.
- January 2026 — Named in Nepal's squad for the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
- June 2026 — Retained by Sudurpaschim Royals for NPL Season 3.
Salary & Auction
Because Aarif Sheikh has been a retained player rather than an auction signing in every NPL season to date, no verified purchase price exists for him.
NPL Stats
Career Statistics
T20I Career
ODI Career
Aarif Sheikh was one of eleven cricketers to feature in Nepal's first-ever ODI against the Netherlands in August 2018. List A: ~89 matches, ~1,713 runs, highest 84, ~9 wickets. Domestic T20 figures vary by tracker scope (~484–765 runs).
NPL Records & Achievements
- Three-time retained player for Sudurpaschim Royals (2024–2026)
- Part of Sudurpaschim Royals squads that reached the NPL final in 2024 and 2025
- One of eleven players who featured in Nepal's first-ever ODI in August 2018
- 2019 South Asian Games bronze medal with Nepal
- CAN central contract holder since September 2020
Latest News
January 2026
Named in Nepal's squad for the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
June 2026
Confirmed among seven retained Sudurpaschim Royals players ahead of NPL Season 3, alongside Dipendra Singh Airee, Binod Bhandari, Ishan Pandey, Abinash Bohara, Hemant Dhami, and Hikmat Mahara.
November–December 2026
NPL Season 3 scheduled for 17 November–13 December 2026; expected to continue in Sudurpaschim Royals' middle order.