NEW DELHI: At 43, Aamir Kaleem isn’t the typical T20 opener, but on Friday night in Abu Dhabi, he turned back the clock to script a spirited stand against world champions India in the Asia Cup. Battling heat, humidity and cramps, Kaleem struck a gritty 64 off 46 balls to give Oman genuine hope of pulling off the tournament’s biggest upset.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Kaleem’s story is remarkable. Having emigrated from Pakistan, he has been part of Oman cricket since 2012, but his role has changed often. Starting as a No. 11 left-arm spinner, he gradually pushed into the middle order, chipping in with handy runs but largely relied upon for his bowling. A spell out of the side in early 2022 hinted his international days were over, but a comeback in late 2024 saw him reinvented as an opener — a role that has since become his own.
He celebrated his maiden T20I fifty with an unbeaten 72 against USA earlier this year. Against India, the stage was grander and the challenge far tougher, yet Kaleem embraced it. Partnering Hammad Mirza (51), he added 93 runs for the second wicket to put Oman within striking distance of India’s 188. For a moment, the Asia Cup holders looked rattled as Oman’s chase gathered steam.
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The dream ended when Hardik Pandya pulled off a stunning catch at the boundary to dismiss Kaleem off Harshit Rana, before removing Mirza in the next over. India eventually sealed a 21-run win, with Arshdeep Singh claiming his 100th T20I wicket.Earlier, Sanju Samson’s 56 and Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 38 had lifted India to a strong total, but Kaleem and Mirza made sure Oman didn’t go down without a fight. Kaleem also chipped in with the ball, returning figures of 2 for 31 to cap a fine all-round display.
Oman’s Aamir Kaleem celebrates the wicket of India’s Shivam Dube. (ANI Photo)
Oman skipper Jatinder Singh summed up the spirit best: “I am extremely proud of the unit. The way they came up, they had their plans and executed them well… So proud of the way they have shown their character in the crunch situation.”For Oman, Kaleem’s knock was more than runs — it was a reminder that even at 43, experience and fight can rattle giants.
