The tenth edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup got underway on February 7, 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. While T20 cricket is often seen as a young player’s game due to its fast pace and high intensity, experience continues to play a vital role in high-pressure tournaments like the World Cup.
Over the years, teams that have found success in T20 cricket have struck the right balance between youth and experience. Veteran players bring composure, game awareness, and leadership qualities that can prove invaluable in crunch moments. On that note, here let us take a look at the three oldest cricketers set to feature in the T20 World Cup 2026.
Here are the Oldest Players in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026:
3) Roelof van der Merwe (Netherlands)
Roelof van der Merwe is one of the rare cricketers to have represented two countries at the international level. He began his international career with South Africa before later switching allegiance to the Netherlands. Van der Merwe turned 41 on December 31 last year. The all-rounder represented South Africa in the 2004 Under-19 World Cup and made an immediate impact in T20Is. He marked his T20I debut against Australia in 2009 with a blistering 48 and bowling figures of 1/30, earning the Player of the Match award. Over a brief international stint with South Africa, he played 26 matches across ODIs and T20Is before stepping away from the setup.
Since then, Van der Merwe has been a key figure for the Netherlands. He is known for his fearless approach and sharp cricketing instincts and has featured in 71 T20Is, scoring 575 runs at an average of 21.29 and a strike rate of 126.93. With the ball, he has been highly effective, picking up 75 wickets at an excellent average of 19.74 and an economy rate of 6.63.
2) Wayne Madsen (Italy)
Wayne Madsen was leading Italy at the T20 World Cup 2026 after taking over the captaincy from Joe Burns, who was surprisingly dropped despite leading the side during their qualification campaign. Madsen turned 42 on January 2, making him one of the oldest players to ever feature in the tournament. He made his T20I debut at the age of 39, using his Italian passport, originally acquired to play county cricket, to represent Italy in ICC competitions. His international journey began during the European Regional Qualifier for the 2024 T20 World Cup, where Italy narrowly missed qualification.
Madsen was unfortunate to pick up a shoulder injury in the team’s tournament-opening clash to be ruled out. He has played eight T20Is, scoring 205 runs at an average of 34.16 and a strike rate of 132.25. He has also registered two half-centuries, with a highest score of 61*, achieved recently in a T20I series against Ireland.
1) Mohammad Nadeem (Oman)
Oman all-rounder Mohammad Nadeem is the oldest player at the T20 World Cup 2026. The 43-year-old, born in Sialkot, Pakistan, has been a cornerstone of Omani cricket for several years. Nadeem has represented Oman in 70 T20Is so far and has grown into a dependable middle-order all-rounder. He scored his maiden international half-century just before his 36th birthday during the 2018 Asia Cup Qualifier against Hong Kong in Malaysia. Since then, he has consistently delivered under pressure, often guiding Oman to victory with crucial unbeaten knocks.
While his batting may not be flashy, Nadeem’s ability to absorb pressure and finish games has been instrumental in Oman’s rise in international cricket. He has scored 822 runs at an average of 21.63 and a strike rate of 103.65. With the ball, he has taken 40 wickets at an average of 30.02 and an economy rate of 7.72.
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