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History Made By Aamir Kaleem! Oman Opener Breaks Massive Record At 43 During Asia Cup Clash

Soumyajit Dutta

Aamir Kaleem breaks record with T20I fifty [Source: @suffi_islam/X.com]Aamir Kaleem breaks record with T20I fifty [Source: @suffi_islam/X.com]

Oman’s Asia Cup 2025 campaign came to a disappointing end with three consecutive defeats, the final blow coming against India on September 19. Yet, amid the gloom, veteran opener Aamir Kaleem emerged as the lone bright spot, etching his name into cricket history with a record-breaking knock.

Kaleem Breaks Multiple Record At 43-Year-Old!

At 43 years and 303 days, Aamir Kaleem became the oldest player to score a T20I half-century against a full-member nation, surpassing the long-standing record of West Indies great Chris Gayle. His 64 runs off 46 balls, decorated with seven boundaries and two towering sixes, may not have been enough to secure a win, but it stood as a personal milestone and a proud moment for Oman cricket.

Notably, Kaleem’s feat also saw him break a 79-year-old record held by England legend Wally Hammond, who had scored 69 runs against India during a 1946 Test at Old Trafford, Manchester. Though Hammond’s record came in the longest format, Kaleem’s innings in the shortest format against a powerhouse like India made the achievement even more remarkable.

Kaleem's Gritty Knock Didn't Help Oman

Chasing a stiff 189-run target, Kaleem opened the innings with Jatinder Singh and fought valiantly to keep Oman in the game. He found support in Hammad Mirza, who added 51 off 33 balls, but the chase gradually lost momentum. 

Mirza was dismissed by Hardik Pandya in the 19th over, leaving Oman’s hopes in tatters. The lower-order pair of Zikriya Islam and Jiten Ramanandi tried to delay the inevitable, but Oman eventually folded at 167, falling short by 21 runs.

Earlier, India had set the tone with a dominant batting performance. Sanju Samson’s 56 off 45 balls anchored the innings, while Abhishek Sharma’s blistering 38 off 15 deliveries provided the early fireworks. Cameos from Axar Patel (26 off 13) and Tilak Varma (29 off 18) propelled India to 189, a total that proved too steep for Oman despite Kaleem’s heroics.