- Web Desk
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Samoa name squad for T20 WC qualifier with Ross Taylor
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- Reuters
- Sep 05, 2025
APIA: Former New Zealand captain Ross Taylor is returning to the field, this time representing Samoa, to boost their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 Twenty20 World Cup.
“It’s official – I’m proud to announce that I’ll be pulling on the blue and representing Samoa in cricket,” Taylor said in a social media post on Friday after being named in the Samoan squad for next month’s Asia-East Asia-Pacific qualifier in Oman.
The 41-year-old, who scored more than 18,000 runs from 450 matches for New Zealand before ending his international career in April 2022, said he was excited to be able to give back to the game.
Taylor holds a Samoan passport through his mother’s heritage and is eligible to represent a second national team at the end of the three-year cooling-off period since his last match for New Zealand.
“This is more than just a return to the game I love — it’s the huge honour to represent my heritage, culture, villages, and family,” he added.
Taylor, who in his prime was one of the most sought-after batters in franchise cricket, said he thought his playing days were over before the chance to play for Samoa came up.
“It’s been a few months in the pipeline, but obviously the team just got announced today,” Taylor told New Zealand Cricket.
“It’s exciting to represent the country of my mother’s birth. I always wanted to give back to the Polynesian community in some sort of way.
“I always thought it would be more in coaching and other avenues. I never thought I’d play. But as the opportunity arose, getting out there and representing – it’s awesome.”
Auckland all-rounder Sean Solia is also part of the Samoa squad led by Caleb Jasmat.
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They will be among nine teams in the qualifying tournament in Oman chasing three spots for next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
The sub-regional qualifiers from 2024: Kuwait, Malaysia, UAE, Qatar, Japan and Samoa, will join Nepal, Papua New Guinea, and the hosts, to do battle for three spots at next year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Of these sides, Oman, Nepal, Papua New Guinea and UAE have featured in the Men’s T20 World Cup previously.
The tournament will be a 10-day affair, with a group stage that runs from 8-10 October.
Samoa T20I squad
Caleb Jasmat (capt), Ross Taylor, Darius Visser, Sean Solia, Daniel Burgess, Douglas Finau, Sam French, Kurtis Hynam-Nyberg, Ben Mailata, Noah Mead, Solomon Nash, Samson Sola, Fereti Sululoto, Saumani Tiai, Ili Tugaga
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