Age Is Just a Number: Sikandar Raza Becomes Oldest T20I Centurion Ever

Sikandar Raza just rewrote the T20I record books. At 40 years and 188 days, the Zimbabwe captain smashed an unbeaten 106 off 56 balls against Afghanistan in Sharjah, becoming the first player ever to hit a T20I century after turning 40. It was a record-breaking masterclass, even in defeat.

Raza Defies Age in Sharjah

Age is just a number for Sikandar Raza, the No. 1 all-rounder in T20Is according to the ICC rankings. On Thursday, he proved it once again at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the second T20I of the three-match series.

Zimbabwe were chasing a daunting 222. Raza took the game on, finishing not out on 106 off 56 balls with nine sixes and five fours.

Zimbabwe ended on 202/5. The captain could not carry his side over the line, but his innings was the story of the night.

A First Across All Nations

Across every cricketing nation, full members and associates alike, no player had scored a T20I century after turning 40. Raza is now the first.

He also broke the record for the oldest T20I centurion. The previous mark belonged to Gibraltar’s Avinash Pai, who scored a century against Bulgaria in 2021 at 39 years and 272 days.

The Oldest T20I Centurions

Raza’s knock moves him clear at the top of a short and rare list. Here is how the oldest century-makers in T20I history stack up.

Raza now sits ahead of Pai by roughly 281 days, a clear gap at the top of the list.

Zimbabwe’s Fastest Hundreds

Raza already owns the record for the fastest T20I century by a Zimbabwean in terms of balls faced. His latest effort is now the joint third-fastest on that same list.

Joining an Elite Captains’ Club

Raza’s second T20I century as captain places him in select company. Only four captains had reached two or more T20I hundreds in the role before him.

Few leaders in the format have matched that level of consistency under pressure, which makes the company he now keeps even more impressive.

A Bittersweet Milestone

There was a painful twist. This was the first time a Zimbabwean player scored a T20I century and still ended up on the losing side.

Raza’s 106* now tops a short list of Zimbabwean knocks in this territory, ahead of Brian Bennett’s 97* against India in Chennai in 2026 and Solomon Mire’s 94 against Pakistan in Harare in 2018.

Why This Innings Matters

Chasing 222 is never easy, and Raza carried the load almost single-handedly. He backed his power game with nine sixes and kept the required rate alive deep into the innings.

For Zimbabwe, the result stings. For cricket, the performance is a reminder that fitness, hunger and fearless striking can stretch a career well beyond the usual limits.

What Comes Next

The series now heads into its decider with Raza in red-hot form. Afghanistan will know that the veteran can flip any game in a handful of overs.

Whether Zimbabwe can turn his record-setting heroics into a series-clinching win is the next big question. One thing is certain: Raza is still getting better with age.