India’s historic 2011 World Cup win, ending a 28-year drought of clinching the prestigious trophy, sparked interest in cricket for Alishan Sharafu and inspired him to pursue cricket seriously, shaping his dream of becoming a professional cricketer for the United Arab Emirates at the international level.
“The 2011 World Cup was pretty much, I think, my earliest memory of watching cricket, and like every other kid from India, I was just supporting India, and they ended up winning the World Cup, so I think it was just fascinating for me to just watch,” Sharufu told India Today in December 2025.
Though Alishan Sharafu resides in the UAE, his roots in Pazhayangadi have played a pivotal role in shaping hisearly passion for cricket, as summer visits to his ancestral village allowed him to play the sport with local people, watch matches, and nurture his skills, which laid the foundation for his rise as a professional cricketer for the UAE.