Aryan Lakra glances raises his bat on his way off after batting for UAE

CONRAD SUTCLIFFE REPORTING

SANDFORD have signed United Arab Emirates international all-rounder Aryan Lakra to replace Dikshu Negi as their overseas player for the Tolchards DCL season ahead.

Negi, whose 746 runs and 43 wickets were key to Sandford winning the Premier Division title in 2023, has joined Royton CC in the Greater Manchester League for the 2024 season.

Twenty-two-year-old Lakra, India-born but now based in Dubai, comes highly recommended by predecessor Negi.

Lakra, a left-handed batter who also bowls spin, started his cricket career at school in Delhi before moving to the Emirates to live and play. He featured in the 2019 ICC U19 World Cup in South Africa for the United Arab Emirates, averaging 22.40 with the bat and 21.54 with the ball and since then has played Twenty20 and 50-over cricket for the UAE.

He is a current member of the UAE’s one-day side with 16 caps to his name and a top score of 84 against the United States in League Two of the 2023 ICC World Cup.Aryan Lakra during his under-19 career

Although Lakra has not played league cricket in the United Kingdom before, his international career has taken him to South Africa, Nepal and Scotland, where he was in UAE teams playing qualifying rounds for the 2023 ICC World Cup.

Larka belted 63 off 47 balls for the UAE in a 11-run Twenty20 win over Afghanistan in Sharjah On New Year’s Eve. He is a member of the Desert Vipers T20 squad that plays in the Emirati International League. Adam Hose (Warwickshire) and Alex Hales (Notts and England) are dressing room colleagues.

Sandford’s new signing is in the habit of celebrating milestones in his life – cricket and otherwise – by getting a new tattoo.

When Larka captained UAE U19s to qualification for the 2019 World Cup, he had ‘Carpe Diem’ (seize the day in Latin) inscribed on his forearm.

Since then, he has added a couple more: one related to strength, power and witchcraft, and another – for a birthday.

Jackson Thompson, the captain who led Sandford to the title last year, said Lakra will be an exciting addition to the squad.

“Aryan is a destructive, top-order batsman, as his innings against Afghanistan shows, and we are excited to see he's signed for us,” said Thompson.

“Added to his batting Aryan also bowls more-than-useful spin and will hopefully contribute with both bat andball.

“Aryan is an enormous talent and is already settling the world alight the Middle East. We look forward to having him at Sandford in 2024 as we aim to retain the Premier Division title.”