Oman’s Aamir Kaleem has set a new record as the oldest player to participate in a Twenty20 World Cup, at 44 years old. Despite his age, Kaleem is determined to continue contributing to his country’s success. He achieved this milestone during Oman’s recent match against Zimbabwe in Sri Lanka, surpassing the previous record held by Ryan Campbell from Hong Kong in 2016.
In an interview via video call with Reuters, Kaleem expressed that age is not a barrier for him as he can still compete at a high level. He credited his national team trainer and physio for helping him maintain his fitness and performance. Making his international debut in 2015, Kaleem joined the World Cup squad as a replacement for the injured fast bowler Hassnain Shah, after proving himself with consistent domestic performances following a period on the sidelines.
Despite being one of the older players in the tournament, with Mohammad Nadeem (43) also in the squad, Kaleem emphasized the need for associate nations like Oman to have more opportunities to play against full-member nations. He highlighted the talent present in these teams but stressed the importance of regular exposure to higher-level competitions.
Reflecting on Oman’s performance in the World Cup, Kaleem acknowledged the challenges faced against established cricketing nations like Australia and Sri Lanka. He noted the team’s need to improve shot selection and focus on building longer innings, expressing confidence that Oman will show progress in the upcoming matches.
After a loss to Sri Lanka, Oman is gearing up to face Ireland in their next match on Saturday. Kaleem remains optimistic about his team’s potential and is determined to make a positive impact as the tournament progresses.