Colombo [Sri Lanka], February 16: Oman may have endured a bruising campaign at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, suffering three heavy defeats, the latest a 96-run loss to Ireland at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Saturday.
Amid the disappointment, one defining highlight emerged: a fighting half-century from veteran all-rounder Aamir Kaleem, who etched his name into the record books as the oldest player to score a T20 World Cup fifty.
At 44 years and 86 days, Kaleem surpassed the previous mark held by team-mate Mohammad Nadeem (43 years and 161 days), set earlier in the tournament against Sri Lanka in Pallekele.
Kaleem's record-setting resistance briefly lifted the gloom, but his message carried greater weight than the milestone itself: Associate nations cannot bridge the gap without sustained, meaningful competition against Test-playing opposition.
Chasing 235 - the highest target of this edition - Oman began with intent. Kaleem's measured aggression kept the required rate within reach through the powerplay before a steep bounce and a flurry of wickets derailed the pursuit.
"As a bowling unit we are not able to execute our plan and we were giving too many bad balls," Kaleem said after the match. "Two hundred and twenty-odd runs was too much. That was the reason."
He maintained the chase remained alive while he and Hammad Mirza shared the crease. "We were going at nine or 10 an over and staying positive. If Hammad or I had batted another three or four overs, things could have been different," he said.
His half-century stood out for its composure against both pace and spin, offering rare control in an otherwise testing innings for Oman.
Kaleem framed the defeat as part of a broader structural challenge facing Associate teams.
"As an Associate team, we are not playing that kind of cricket regularly," he said. "If we play consistently against higher-ranked teams like Ireland or Zimbabwe, definitely we will improve."
The Colombo surface exposed that gap. Oman's batters struggled with bounce, while the seamers found little margin at the death. "We are not able to handle the bounce. we have quality fast bowlers, but we don't have that kind of platform," he added, calling for greater exposure abroad.
The veteran also paid tribute to head coach Duleep Mendis for Oman's rise. "Mendis Sir gives everything, his experience and understanding of conditions," Kaleem said. "He is a legend who has contributed a lot to Oman cricket. Because of his guidance we are here. The only thing is that we, the players, must perform and handle the pressure in the middle."
Oman now turn to their final fixture against Australia in Pallekele on February 20, seeking a response that reflects Kaleem's defiance. Encouraging outings against Sri Lanka A and Zimbabwe during the World Cup warm-up games have offered glimpses of potential, but Kaleem's conclusion was unequivocal: sustained progress demands consistent exposure at the highest level.
"This is the highest stage," he said. "We have to think as a unit, correct our mistakes and come back strongly. With more support and more cricket against top teams, we will improve."
Kaleem's record innings could not change the result, but it sharpened Oman's case. The team's resolve is evident, and the next step requires a calendar that tests them regularly against the game's established powers.
Source: Times of Oman
