Omani batsman Mohammad Nadeem has created a new record in ICC T20 World Cup history, becoming the oldest cricketer to score a half-century in the Men’s T20 World Cup, surpassing former Sri Lankan opener Sanath Jayasuriya. However, he has also joined Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan in another list of unwanted records.
Oman made it to the main event of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 and it can be said that middle-order all-rounder Mohammad Nadeem had a key role in their success. He is not only their oldest but also their most experienced cricketer along with captain Jatinder Singh.
In the second match of the tournament between these two teams, Sri Lanka gave a crushing defeat to the Omani team. After playing their first game against Ireland, Sri Lanka got off to a winning start, while Oman lost their first match to Zimbabwe as the Africans’ weak players made a spectacular effort with the ball.
Mohammad Nadeem sets a new record in ICC T20 World Cup history
Omani batsman Mohammad Nadeem is the oldest player in this edition of the T20 World Cup. His age is 43 years and 161 days, which is more than Italian captain Wayne Madsen and Netherlands spinner Roelof van der Merwe.
However, he has now set a new record in T20 World Cup history, as he has become the oldest cricketer to score a half-century in a T20 World Cup game. He overtook the record of former Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya, who had made this record with a half-century against West Indies in 2009, when he was 39 years and 345 days old.
Jayasuriya was part of the Lankan camp and watched the innings of the Omani batsman. Jayasuriya is the head coach of the Sri Lankan team in this tournament.
At the age of 43 years and 161 days, Mohammad Nadeem became the oldest player to score a half-century in any men’s T20 World Cup.
He surpassed his opposition coach Sanath Jayasuriya, who was 39 years and 345 days old when he scored 81 against West Indies in 2009. pic.twitter.com/jDpvRynp43
– ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) 12 February 2026
Mohammad Rizwan joins the top list of embarrassing records in T20 World Cup
On the same day and in the same innings that he became the oldest to score a half-century in a World Cup, he also earned the top spot in an unwanted list. Mohammad Nadeem’s half-century came amidst a lot of struggle and he reached the historic feat in 52 balls.
When Mohammad Nadeem came out to bat for Oman, his team looked to be in great struggle as they lost both their openers within the first two overs of the game. Furthermore, they kept losing wickets throughout the innings but they maintained patience at the other end and batted throughout the innings.
In doing so, he equaled the record of Pakistan wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan, who holds the record for the slowest half-century in a T20 World Cup game. His record was also made off 52 balls during an innings against Canada in the 2024 World Cup.
Easy win for Sri Lanka, but a consolation half-century for Oman’s Mohammad Nadeem. #T20WorldCup2026 pic.twitter.com/xvJHDAOzWg
– Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) 12 February 2026
Co-hosts beat Oman in Pallekele, Sri Lankan middle order performed brilliantly
Sri Lanka could not make a good start; However, their middle-order was superb against the Asian giants. Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara were out early, but this brought Kusal Mendis and Pawan Rathnayake to the crease.
Both the batsmen performed brilliantly and scored fifties, but the carnage started by Rathnayake was carried forward by captain Dasun Shanaka. Shanaka scored the joint fourth fastest half-century in the T20 World Cup in just 19 balls.
After restricting Oman to 120/9 in 20 overs, the Lankan team set a mammoth target of 226 runs and won the match by a huge margin of 105 runs. Dushmantha Chameera and Mahesh Theekshana were the best bowlers with 2 wickets each.
Also read: Dasun Shanaka equals Rohit Sharma’s World Cup record by scoring 19 runs in 19 balls against Oman
