Kerala-born UAE batter Alishan Sharafu holds a blue belt in karate

Kerala-born UAE batter Alishan Sharafu was around 10 years old when his father, who works in the IT industry, enrolled him at a karate academy, according to The Indian Express. The 23-year-old holds a blue belt in the martial art, though he has almost forgotten it. Notably, Sharafu smashed 55(47) against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2026.