Aasif Sheikh, the Nepali cricket team’s wicketkeeper, won the player of the match in the ICC World League-2 triangular ODI series against Papua New Guinea. Asif was recognized as the game’s best player after putting on an outstanding performance to help Nepal triumph despite being down 105-7 at one point.
In Asif’s greatest effort, Nepal defeated Papua New Guinea by three wickets. Nepal lost 7 wickets in 48 overs while chasing a winning score of 180 runs. Asif batted maturely, scoring 86 runs off 130 balls with two fours and one six. Asif has now reached his eighth half-century in ODIs.
Aasif’s ODI performance is his third best of his career. Asif’s best ODI score was 90 against Oman in 2021. He batted an undefeated 88-run innings against UAE at the TU stadium in November.
Asif won player of the match honors in an ODI for the first time in July 2022 after hitting 71 runs to help Pakistan defeat Scotland. That is his fourth player of the match award in his ODI career.
Aasif Sheikh and Sandeep Lamichhane struck an unbroken 77-run partnership for the ninth wicket to help Nepal win. With his ODI career high performance, Sandeep stayed undefeated on 35 from 50 balls with three fours.
With the win, Nepal has immediately enhanced its chances of ODI recognition because to his controlled great effort. If Nepal wins three out of its five games, it will be given ODI status. If they only win three games, they must finish in the top four of the playoff qualifiers. The last World Cup qualifying games must all be victories as well.
