During its inception back in 2005, T20I cricket has been regarded as the format for the youngsters.
Although that perception has changed in the past few years with experienced players winning T20 World Cups for their countries, in the initial years, many senior players either opted out or were dropped from the ICC T20 World Cup sides to give the youngsters a go.
There have been 7 editions of ICC T20 World Cups so far, with several youngsters leaving their big imprints on the tournaments.
Here are the 5 youngest players to have played in the ICC T20 World Cup:
Mohammad Amir
Former Pakistan speedster Mohammad Amir remains the youngest-ever cricketer to play in ICC T20 World Cup. The left-arm fast bowler was only 17 years and 55 days when he first played in the tournament back in the 2009 T20 World Cup, against England at the Oval.
Amir was part of the Pakistan eleven that defeated Sri Lanka in the final of that tournament and picked the wicket of Dilshan in the first over.
Rashid Khan
Afghanistan superstar Rashid Khan played his first game at the mega-event in the 2016 ICC T20 World Cup, against Scotland in Nagpur, when he was 17 years and 170 days old. He’s picked up 19 wickets in 12 T20 World Cup matches in the last two tournaments.
Rashid now is one of the most sought-after T20 players in the world. Afghanistan’s success at the forthcoming T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia largely depends on Rashid’s form.
Ahmed Shehzad
Pakistan batsman Ahmed Shehzad was only 17 years and 196 days old when he played in the 2009 ICC T20 World Cup game against England, but didn’t feature in any match after that in that tournament. He played in the 2014 and 2016 editions as well and even hit a century in 2014 against Bangladesh.
The 30-year-old Ahmed Shehzad has been dropped by Pakistan for the last three years due to form and indiscipline.
George Dockrell
Ireland all-rounder George Dockrell made his T20 maiden appearance back in 2010, against West Indies in Providence, when he was at the age of 17 years and 282 days.
Dockrell, who is a right-handed batsman and bowls left-arm orthodox spin, has 105 T20I caps to his name and has featured in 4 T20 World Cups in his career.
Sompal Kami
Nepal’s bowling all-rounder Sompal Kami played his first match in the 2014 ICC T20 World Cup when he was aged 18 years and 42 days, against Hong Kong in Chattogram. A bowling all-rounder Sompal Kami played in 3 matches during that tournament.
