T20 World Cup 2022: Team-wise oldest players to feature in mega event

Since the inception of T20 cricket, it has been propagated that youngsters will dominate the format. It is a popular belief that youngsters, after all, are the ones who aren't afraid to take risks regardless of situations. However, as things stand, youngsters aren't the only ones, who are setting the stage on fire in T20 cricket. There are a set of players, who even in their mid 30s are dominating the format and scripting history every single day. 'Ageing like a fine wine' - It is probably the right phrase to describe these cricketers. Playing in a World Cup itself is a huge achievement and it comes with consistent performances. When you are in the twilight of your career and still manage to make it to a World Cup squad then that speaks volumes about your ability and age just becomes meaningless. Let's take a glance at the team-wise oldest players, who will be seen in action in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia: Team-wise oldest players in T20 World Cup 2022 New Zealand Aged 35 years and 356 days, Martin Guptill is the oldest player for New Zealand in the upcoming T20 World Cup. That, however, has nothing to do with what he can do on a cricket pitch. The Kiwi is currently ranked 11th on ICC’s Men T20I player rankings and it proves the kind of impact he can still create in the shortest format of the game. However, his numbers in the last few matches tell a different story. In his last nine T20 internationals, Guptill has only scored 198 runs at a strike rate of 122.22. Overall, the opener has played a total of 121 T20I matches and scored 3497 runs at a strike rate of 135.80. He is expected to do well in the upcoming T20 World Cup as the conditions in Australia aren't alien to him. He prefers pace on the ball and in Australia, Guptill will get that. Thus, he will get the opportunity to play the brand of cricket that he has played for so many years and with that, one should expect him to do well and help New Zealand win their maiden T20 World Cup. Australia Aged 35 years and 329 days, David Warner will be the oldest player in the Australian dressing room during the T20 World Cup. However, age has nothing to do with the kind of damage Warner can do in any format of the game. It was because of his destructive batting, that the southpaw was adjudged as the Player of the Tournament in the last T20 World Cup (2021) and since then, he has just gotten better. The swashbuckling opener has played 91 T20I matches so far and he is in no mood to slow down. He has scored 2684 runs in the format and has a strike rate of 140.89 which proves the kind of impact he can create at the top of the order. The fact that the upcoming T20 World Cup will be played in Australia, Warner can go hell for leather from ball one. He will be partnering his captain Aaron Finch at the top of the order. Finch, at 35 years and 288 days, is the second oldest player in the squad. Thus, two of the oldest players in the Australian team will lead the way as Australia aim to defend their title. Afghanistan Mohammad Nabi, the captain of the Afghanistan team is the oldest player in the squad. At 37 years and 263 days, Nabi is almost eight years older than the second oldest player in the squad - Najibullah Zadran, who’s 29 years old. Nabi is also the oldest player among the players of all the eight teams, who have already made it to the Super 12 stage. Nabi, a veteran in the T20I format, has featured in 101 T20I matches in his career thus far. He has scored 1669 runs at a strike rate of 140.37 and also picked up 83 wickets in the format. His experience of playing over 440 T20 matches will come in handy for Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup. Popularly known as 'The President', Nabi had a very poor recent Asia Cup and that is something he needs to address. Pakistan Shan Masood at 32 years and 342 days, is the oldest player in the Pakistan squad. He was not in Pakistan’s scheme of things earlier and this is for the first time that the batter has got a call-up in Pakistan’s T20I squad. He didn't display a rich vein of form for Balochistan in the National T20 Cup 2022, but for Derbyshire, he scored 547 runs in the 14 matches that he played during the T20 Blast 2022. He had a strike rate of 139.89 in the T20 Blast in England and that earned him a spot in the national team. Now, in the absence of Fakhar Zaman, he might feature regularly in the squad but before that, Masood needs to prove himself in the nets. In the big boys league, Masood will definitely not find it easy in the middle. South Africa At the age of 33 years and 161 days, Dwaine Pretorius is the oldest player in the South Africa squad. The allrounder has impressed everyone with his all-round skills. He can clear the ropes pretty easily and can be a healthy bowling option for Temba Bavuma, the captain of the South African team. In the 29 T20 internationals that Pretorius has played, he has taken 32 wickets and scored 261 runs at a strike rate of 164.15. That’s the kind of threat he can be in the lower-middle order and if required, he can bat up in the order as well. Even though he is a wicket-taking bowler, his economy of 8.32 can be a problem for South Africa in Australia. He will be critical for the team in the T20 World Cup as he provides the much-needed balance. Pretorius can vary his pace well and has the potential to bowl at the death too. England Despite being 35 years and 95 days old, Moeen Ali is one of the most important players for England going into the T20 World Cup. He has the ability to change the complexion of a game with the bat as well as with the ball in hand. Ali has played 56 T20Is for England thus far and scored 798 runs at a strike rate of 143.52. With the kind of numbers he has, Moeen will definitely be England’s trump card in the upcoming T20 World Cup. With the ball, the off-spinner has taken 40 wickets for England but his economy of 8.29 is a bit concerning. As England missed out on the silverware last time around, Ali would be desperate to win the trophy for his team this year. He is currently leading England in Pakistan in Jos Buttler's absence. Bangladesh The captain of the Bangladesh team, Shakib Al Hasan, is the oldest in the squad that has been picked for the T20 World Cup 2022. The allrounder is also Bangladesh’s best bet in the T20 World Cup with the kind of experience he has. Shakib has played 101 T20Is for Bangladesh and scored 2045 runs at a strike rate of 120.72. He has played some memorable knocks for Bangladesh in some of the major tournaments and the management expects similar results from him in the upcoming T20 World Cup. With the ball, Shakib has been economical (6.67) and picked up 122 wickets. At 35 years and 181 days, Shakib is still a runaway match winner in T20Is. However, he has a tough job at hand as Bangladesh have played some poor cricket in the last few months. With Mahmudullah dropped from the squad and Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim officially retired from the shortest format of the game, Bangladesh lacks experience in the middle. It is in a way an invaluable opportunity for Shakib but at the same time makes his task arduous. India The 37-year-old wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik is the oldest player in the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup. He along with Rohit Sharma is the only Indian player to play in the inaugural T20 World Cup edition (2007) and is still around. Karthik has played 51 T20Is for India and scored 598 runs at a strike rate of 139.71. He has been given the role of a finisher in the Indian team and has done reasonably well so far. Playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL 2022, Karthik had a stellar season with the bat. He scored 330 runs in 16 matches at a phenomenal strike rate of 183.33. He has revealed that it was his dream to feature in the T20 World Cup 2022 and now he’ll be able to experience it. In all likelihood, the upcoming T20 World Cup will be Karthik's last and thus, he will give his everything to win it again for his country.

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T20 World Cup 2022: Team-wise oldest players to feature in mega event

The T20 World Cup 2022 will see numerous players, who are already in the twilight of their careers fighting it out for the silverware.

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