Aasif Sheikh produced one of the most important innings of Nepal’s ACC Men’s Premier Cup campaign, scoring a brilliant century in the final against the United Arab Emirates. However, after being named Player of the Match, the Nepal wicketkeeper-batter was quick to shift the spotlight away from himself and praise his teammates for the team’s successful tournament.
Aasif Sheikh scored 102 runs from 106 deliveries as Nepal posted a strong total of 313/9 at the Bayuemas Cricket Oval. Nepal then completed the job with the ball, dismissing the UAE for 269 to secure a convincing 44-run victory.
The win gave Nepal the ACC Men’s Premier Cup title and also secured their qualification for the 2027 Asia Cup, making the final an important occasion for Nepalese cricket.
For Aasif, the century was special not only because of the individual milestone but also because it came in a title-deciding match that Nepal eventually won.
Aasif Sheikh Calls Century a Special Feeling
Speaking during the post-match presentation, Aasif Sheikh said the victory made his century even more meaningful.
“It is a very special feeling for me,” Aasif said. “We ended up on the winning side, so it means a lot to me.”
The 102-run knock was Aasif’s second century in ODI cricket. He played with patience during the early part of his innings before accelerating when the conditions and situation allowed him to attack.
Rather than focusing only on reaching three figures, Aasif’s main plan was to make his start count and stay at the crease for a long period.
That approach proved valuable for Nepal. His innings gave the team a strong platform in the final and allowed the batters who followed him to attack the UAE bowling during the later stages of the innings.
Aasif Sheikh Wanted to Convert His Start Into a Big Innings
The Bayuemas Cricket Oval surface offered favourable batting conditions, and Aasif quickly understood that there was an opportunity to score heavily.
The Nepal opener explained that once he got through the initial phase of his innings, his biggest priority was to convert that start into a substantial score.
“It was really good to bat on,” he said. “All I was thinking was that if I got a start, I had to go on. I just needed to convert the innings, and that’s what I did.”
That simple plan worked perfectly.
Aasif Sheikh eventually scored 102 runs from 106 balls, striking eight fours and four sixes. His strike rate of 96.22 showed that his innings was not simply about occupying the crease. He combined controlled batting with attacking shots whenever the opportunity came.
His century became the foundation on which Nepal built a total of more than 300 runs.
Aasif Sheikh and Arjun Kumal Give Nepal a Strong Start
Nepal began their innings with Aasif Sheikh and Arjun Kumal at the crease. The pair put together a valuable opening partnership of 97 runs.
Arjun Kumal contributed 43 runs from 63 balls, supporting Aasif while the pair ensured that Nepal did not lose an early wicket in the final.
The opening stand gave Nepal the platform they needed. Aasif was able to settle into his innings, while Arjun played an important supporting role before eventually being dismissed.
With nearly 100 runs already on the board, Nepal were in a strong position to build a big total.
Aasif continued after Arjun’s departure and formed another important partnership, this time with Nepal captain Rohit Paudel.
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Rohit Paudel Partnership Adds More Stability
After Arjun Kumal was dismissed, Aasif Sheikh joined forces with Rohit Paudel.
The two batters added 68 runs for the third wicket, keeping Nepal firmly in control of the final.
Aasif continued to move towards his century while Rohit helped maintain the scoring rate at the other end. Their partnership was particularly important because Nepal needed to turn their good start into a total that could put pressure on the UAE batting lineup.
Aasif eventually reached his century before his innings came to an end.
Aasif Sheikh Dismissed After Scoring 102
Aasif Sheikh’s memorable innings ended when he was caught by Aayan Afzal Khan off the bowling of Haider Ali.
His dismissal came in the 36th over, with Nepal on 191/3.
By that point, Aasif had already done his main job. He had given Nepal a strong base and left enough overs for the lower and middle order to attack.
His 102-run innings included eight boundaries and four sixes and became one of the defining moments of Nepal’s title-winning performance.
The challenge for the remaining batters was to make full use of the platform created by Aasif and the earlier partnerships.
Gulshan Jha and Basir Ahamad Take Nepal Beyond 300
After Aasif’s dismissal, Rohit Paudel, Gulshan Jha and Basir Ahamad ensured that Nepal did not lose momentum.
Gulshan Jha played an aggressive innings, scoring 52 runs from just 38 balls. His attacking approach helped Nepal maintain a strong scoring rate during the final overs.
Basir Ahamad then provided the finishing touch.
He remained unbeaten on 15 from only four deliveries, helping Nepal cross the important 300-run mark.
Together, the contributions from the middle and lower order allowed Nepal to finish on 313/9.
The total gave their bowlers a sizeable target to defend and eventually proved too much for the UAE.
Nepal Bowlers Complete a 44-Run Victory
Chasing 314 for victory, the UAE batting lineup could not match Nepal’s performance.
Nepal eventually bowled the UAE out for 269, completing a 44-run victory in the final.
The result was significant because the UAE had entered the title match unbeaten. Nepal therefore had to overcome a strong opponent to lift the trophy.
The victory also highlighted the balance within the Nepal team. Aasif’s century was the standout individual performance with the bat, but the bowlers and other batters all played their part in the overall success.
Aasif Sheikh Gives Credit to the Entire Nepal Team
Despite receiving the Player of the Match award, Aasif Sheikh made it clear that he did not consider the victory an individual achievement.
The wicketkeeper-batter praised the entire Nepal squad and pointed towards the collective effort that carried the team through the tournament.
“Credit goes to all the team members,” Aasif said. “Everybody contributed from their side and played their role beautifully.”
His comments reflected Nepal’s campaign in the competition. The team did not depend on one player throughout the tournament. Instead, different members of the squad stepped up at important moments.
Five different Nepal players received Player of the Match recognition during the campaign, underlining how widely the team shared responsibility.
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Nepal’s Road to the ACC Men’s Premier Cup Title
Nepal’s title-winning run was built on five victories from six matches in Malaysia.
They began their campaign with wins over Bahrain, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. Those results put Nepal in a strong position during the competition.
However, their final group-stage match ended in disappointment when they lost to Hong Kong.
Rather than allowing that defeat to derail their campaign, Nepal responded strongly in the knockout stage.
In the semi-final, Nepal faced Oman and successfully defended a total of just 147 runs. The victory booked their place in the final and gave the team another chance to challenge for the trophy.
The final against the previously unbeaten UAE was their biggest test.
Nepal responded with a strong batting display led by Aasif Sheikh’s century. The 313/9 total put pressure on the UAE, and Nepal’s bowlers eventually completed the job by dismissing their opponents for 269.
Aasif Sheikh’s Century Comes at the Perfect Time
For Aasif Sheikh, the timing of the innings made the century particularly valuable.
A century in a regular league match is an important achievement, but producing 102 runs in a tournament final carries a different significance. His innings came when Nepal needed a reliable top-order performance to build a competitive total.
Aasif’s decision to bat deep after getting his initial start allowed Nepal to benefit from his experience and shot-making ability.
He did not rush his innings. Instead, he built partnerships with Arjun Kumal and Rohit Paudel before eventually reaching three figures.
The attacking contributions from Gulshan Jha and Basir Ahamad then ensured that Nepal finished with the kind of total required to put the UAE under pressure.
Nepal Qualify for the 2027 Asia Cup
The 44-run victory over the UAE had an added reward for Nepal.
By winning the ACC Men’s Premier Cup, Nepal secured qualification for the 2027 Asia Cup.
That makes the tournament victory an important step for Nepalese cricket. The team showed that it could recover from setbacks, perform under pressure and defeat a previously unbeaten opponent in a final.
Aasif Sheikh’s century will naturally be remembered as one of the biggest moments of the title match, but the batter himself was keen to emphasise that the trophy belonged to the entire squad.
His performance provided the platform, while the rest of the team completed the job.
Conclusion
Aasif Sheikh’s 102 from 106 balls was the defining batting performance of Nepal’s ACC Men’s Premier Cup final victory over the UAE. His second ODI century came with eight fours and four sixes and helped Nepal reach 313/9 at the Bayuemas Cricket Oval.
The wicketkeeper-batter’s contribution was followed by strong performances from Gulshan Jha, Basir Ahamad and Nepal’s bowling attack, which dismissed the UAE for 269.
More importantly, Aasif Sheikh refused to take all the credit for himself. His praise for his teammates summed up Nepal’s successful campaign, where five different players earned Player of the Match recognition.
Nepal’s five wins from six matches ultimately delivered the trophy, while the victory over UAE also secured their place in the 2027 Asia Cup.
For Aasif Sheikh, it was a memorable century. For Nepal, it was a title-winning performance built on a genuine team effort.