ICC World Cup trivia: Afridi, Jayawardene to share limelight

Veterans to become the most experienced players in event’s history.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi and Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene are set to become the most experienced players in the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup history, after they were named in provisional squads for the tournament. The two players made their World Cup debuts in 1999, and have appeared in every event ever since.

If the two players are named in the final line-ups, they will join the exclusive club of Wasim Akram, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Aravinda de Silva, Inzamamul Haq, Sanath Jayasuriya, Jacques Kallis, Imran Khan, Brian Lara, Muttiah Muralidaran, Thomas Odoyo, Ricky Ponting, Arjuna Ranatunga and Steve Tikolo, who have each played in five World Cups to date.

Pakistan’s Javed Miandad and India’s Sachin Tendulkar, with six World Cups each, share the record for the most appearances at the ICC’s pinnacle event.

Interestingly, this will be the first World Cup which will be held without either Miandad or Tendulkar. The former played from 1975 to 1996, while the latter represented his country from 1992 to 2011.

Meanwhile, the UAE has named the oldest and youngest players of the tournament in its 30-player provisional squad. Khurram Khan at 43 is the oldest players while Yodhin Punja, 15, is the youngest player. 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th,  2014.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.