Fri Sep 05 05:40:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

New Zealand cricket legend Ross Taylor, an ICC World Test Championship winner, is set to represent Samoa in the upcoming Asia-East Asia-Pacific T20 World Cup 2026 Qualifier in Oman. This marks his return to cricket after retirement from New Zealand’s national team and a move to honor his Samoan heritage. Taylor’s inclusion boosts Samoa’s chances of qualifying for their first-ever men’s global event. He joins other notable players like Sean Solia and Darius Visser in the squad. Samoa qualified for this stage after a strong performance in Sub-Regional qualifying. The tournament features nine teams vying for three spots in the T20 World Cup.

**News Article:**

**Ross Taylor to Represent Samoa in T20 World Cup Qualifier**

**Apia, Samoa** – Former New Zealand cricket star Ross Taylor is set to don the Samoan colors in the upcoming Asia-East Asia-Pacific T20 World Cup 2026 Qualifier in Oman, as confirmed on Friday. Taylor, a World Test Championship winner with New Zealand, will represent his mother’s heritage, aiming to help Samoa secure their first-ever qualification for a men’s global event.

“This is a huge honor to represent my heritage, culture, villages, and family,” Taylor stated on Instagram. “I’m excited for the opportunity to give back to the game and share my experience with the squad.”

The 41-year-old Taylor qualifies for Samoa after a three-year stand-down period following his retirement from international cricket in April 2022. He brings a wealth of experience, having amassed over 18,000 runs for New Zealand, including a T20I strike rate of 122.37.

Taylor is not the only notable addition to the Samoan squad. Sean Solia also returns, and Darius Visser, famed for scoring 39 runs in a single over during Sub-Regional qualifying, will also represent Samoa.

Samoa secured their place in the qualifier after an impressive performance in Sub-Regional qualifying, where they outshone Vanuatu, Cook Islands, and Fiji. They now join Papua New Guinea and Japan as East Asia-Pacific representatives in a nine-team tournament that includes Oman, Nepal, Kuwait, Malaysia, Qatar, and the UAE. Three spots are up for grabs in the 2026 T20 World Cup.

The Asia-East Asia-Pacific T20 World Cup 2026 Qualifier kicks off on October 8.

**Samoa Squad:** Caleb Jasmat, 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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