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Aamir Kaleem becomes the oldest player [Source: X]
The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 is under full swing with exciting clashes taking place from time to time, and Monday's encounter between Oman and Zimbabwe at the SSC Ground in Colombo added another layer of inspiration to the tournament in the form of Aamir Kaleem.
In the match, Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza won the toss and elected to bowl first. Oman, looking to build on their warm-up momentum, named an experienced lineup featuring several veterans who have been pivotal in the nation's rise, with Aamir Kaleem being one.
As the teams took the field under lights, one player in particular drew attention for his enduring presence in the Omani setup. The match marked a significant personal milestone amid Oman's bid for an upset against the full-member side.
Aamir Kaleem becomes the oldest player in T20 World Cup history
In stepping onto the field against Zimbabwe, Aamir Kaleem officially became the oldest player to feature in a Men's T20 World Cup match, at 44 years and 81 days.
The left-handed all-rounder surpassed the previous record held by Hong Kong's Ryan Campbell, who was 44 years and 30 days old during the 2016 edition.
This exclusive achievement further underlines the expanding culture of the tournament in its 20-team format, where experience from associate nations continues to challenge conventions.
Top 10 oldest players in T20 World Cup history
| Rank | Player | Team | Age | Edition |
| 1 | Aamir Kaleem | Oman | 44 years, 81 days | 2026 |
| 2 | Ryan Campbell | Hong Kong | 44 years, 30 days | 2016 |
| 3 | Frank Nsubuga | Uganda | 43 years, 253 days | 2024 |
| 4 | Mohammad Nadeem | Oman | 43 years | 2026 |
| 5 | Brad Hogg | Australia | 43 years, 34 days | 2014 |
| 6 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | 42 years, 36 days | 2021 |
| 7 | Wayne Madsen | Italy | 42 years | 2026 |
| 8 | Najeeb Amar | Hong Kong | 42 years, 17 days | 2014 |
| 9 | Mohammad Nabi | Afghanistan | 41 years | 2026 |
| 10 | Roelof van der Merwe | Netherlands | 41 years | 2026 |
Who is Aamir Kaleem?
Born on November 20, 1981, in Karachi, Pakistan, Syed Aamir Kaleem is a left-handed batting all-rounder who bowls slow left-arm orthodox. He relocated to Oman and became a vital cog of their cricket setup, earning citizenship and debuting internationally in 2010 in the ACC Trophy Elite.
Kaleem's journey reflects dedication in associate cricket. Once dreaming of representing Pakistan, he channelled his talent into elevating Oman. Historic milestones include being part of Oman's maiden T20 World Cup appearance in 2016 and consistent performances in Asia Cup qualifiers.
The veteran has been a crucial contributor for the team in both the batting and bowling departments. In ODIs, he boasts 160 runs and 18 wickets from his 15 appearances, while in T20Is, he has a staggering 48 wickets to his name from 54 appearances.
In the same format, he has also scored 718 runs at a strike rate of 112.53. Though Amir Kaleem does not have any significant milestone in the ODI format, he has two half-centuries to his name in T20I cricket.
Kaleem's recent form and performances
Aamir mostly opens for Oman in T20Is, and though he hasn’t been in super form in recent series with the bat, he made a good contribution for his team in the 2025 Asia Cup, where he scalped five wickets from three matches.
His last appearance in the T20 format ahead of the World Cup came in the qualifiers, where he managed to score 46 runs from five appearances. However, he was impressive with the bat in the February 3 warm-up clash against Sri Lanka A, scoring a 47-ball 80 to help Oman win the match by five wickets while chasing 146 runs.
