mohammad nadeem

What Happened

Oman’s Mohammad Nadeem made history on February 12, 2026, by becoming the second oldest batter to score a half-century in T20 World Cup history. Nadeem achieved this milestone at 43 years and 161 days old during a match against Sri Lanka, surpassing the previous record held by Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya, who scored a half-century at 39 years and 345 days in 2009.

Why It Matters

Nadeem’s achievement highlights the growing trend of older players making significant contributions in T20 cricket, a format typically dominated by younger athletes. His performance not only showcases his skill but also emphasizes the longevity of players in the sport. However, Nadeem’s half-century came with a caveat; he equaled the record for the slowest half-century in T20 World Cups, reaching his 50 runs off 52 balls, a record previously set by Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan.

What’s Next

Following Nadeem’s record, Aamir Kaleem, another Omani player, surpassed him just days later by becoming the oldest player to score a half-century at 44 years and 86 days during a match against Ireland. This rapid succession of records raises questions about the future of veteran players in T20 cricket and their potential impact on upcoming matches in the tournament.

By Aarav Sharma

Aarav Sharma is the News Editor at Newsduniya. He oversees daily coverage of national news, politics and public affairs, with a particular interest in how policy decisions affect readers across India.