In this post, we will talk about the list of Cricketers who have played 5 or more ICC Cricket ODI World Cups. Till now, a total of 19 cricketers have played 5 or more ICC ODI cricket. ICC Cricket World Cup has been the biggest tournament in the game of cricket. Every player dreams of representing his country on the biggest stage and playing for his country. Some make it possible while some others are not so lucky that they can make their team win this tournament.
Since the beginning of the World Cup in 1975, there have been a total of 13 editions in which 13 edition are currently played by India. Some of the legendary players who have played in multiple ICC World Cups in their career and will be talking about the players who have played in 5 or more World Cups in their career especially there are two players who Have played 6 World Cup editions. In the current 13 equations, there are 2 players who are playing their fifth World Cup.
Cricketers who have played five or more ICC ODI World Cups:
1. Imran Khan (1975, 1979, 1983, 1987 and 1992) :
Pakistan’s greatest player Imran Khan participated in the World Cup for the fifth time in which he captained the Pakistan team in 1992 and won this tournament. Pakistan’s greatest player Imran Khan played his first World Cup in 1975 and he played his last ODI World Cup in 1992. In 28 matches of the World Cup, he scored 665 runs with 1 century and 4 half-centuries at an average of 33596 and also took 34 wickets at an average of 19 runs 26.
2 Javed Miandad – 6 (1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992 and 1996) :
Former Pakistan batsman Javed Miandad was one of the most decorated players of Pakistan ever and he is the only batsman in Pakistan cricket history to participate in 6 editions of the ODI Cricket World Cup. He played his first ICC ODI World Cup in 1975 and played his last ODI World Cup in 1996. Miandad played 33 matches and scored 1083 runs at an average of 43.32 in which he scored 1 century and 8 half-centuries.
3. Arjuna Ranatunga (1983, 1987, 1992, 1996 and 1999) :
Arjun Ranatunga is the only captain of Sri Lanka who led Sri Lanka to the ICC World Cup title under his captaincy. Arjun Ranatunga is one of the greatest cricketers of Sri Lanka. Ranatunga played his first World Cup in 1987 and his last ODI World Cup played in 1999. He scored 969 runs at an average of 46.14 in which he scored 7 half-centuries.
4. Wasim Akram (1987, 1992, 1996, 1999, and 2003) :
Wasim Akram is one of the greatest cricketers in Pakistan who played a key role in Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup victory. He also won the Man of the Match award for his all-round performance in the final. Akram played for 5 World Cup titles. Wasim Akram was one of the highest wicket-takers in the history of the tournament, in 38 matches he took a total of 55 wickets at an average of 23.83 and also scored 426 runs with the bat.
5.Aravinda de Silva (1987, 1992, 1996, 1999 and 2003) :
Former Sri Lankan star Arvinda de Silva, one of Sri Lanka’s greatest players, was one of the few batsmen to score 1000 runs in the World Cup. He won man of the match in the 1996 World Cup, which Sri Lanka won. He played World Cup matches and scored 1064 runs at an average of 36.68 with 2 centuries and 6 half-centuries.
6. Inzamam-ul-Haq (1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, and 2007) :
Former Pakistani captain Inzamam Ul Haq, one of the greatest players of Pakistan, played his first match in the World Cup in 1992 and he was a young player who was a part of the winning team. Later he played in four more World Cup editions. His last edition was in 2007. He was one of Pakistan’s greatest batsmen of his generation, scoring 770 runs in 35 World Cup matches at an average of 23.90.
7. Brain Lara (1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, and 2007) :
Brian Lara, the greatest batsman in the history of West Indies cricket, participated in five editions of the ODI World Cup. He is also the third-highest scorer in history. Brain Lara played 34 World Cup matches in which he scored 1225 runs at an average of 42.24 with 2 centuries and 7 half-centuries. He scored both these centuries against South Africa. West Indies’ greatest batsman Brian Lara is the only player in Test cricket who has scored 400 runs in an innings.
8.Sanath Jayasuriya (1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, and 2007)
Sanath Jayasuriya, an aggressive Sri Lankan batsman in Sri Lankan cricket history, participated in five ICC World Cup editions. Jayasuriya played 38 matches in which he scored 34 runs at an average of 26 with three centuries and six centuries. He was also a useful bowler who also took 27 wickets. Jayasuriya is also the fourth-highest run-scorer in World Cup history.
9. Sachin Tendulkar 6 (1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011) :
Sachin Tendulkar, the greatest batsman of Indian cricket and the player who is called the God of world cricket, participated in 6 editions. He is the second player in the world who participated in six editions of the ICC ODI World Cup. He is the only player to score more than 2,000 runs in World Cup history. Sachin Tendulkar won his first World Cup title in his last World Cup in the 2011 edition. He played 45 matches in which he scored 2278 runs at an average of 56.75 in which he scored six centuries and 15 half-centuries, a record that still stands today.
10. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011)
Shivnarine Narine Chanderpaul, one of the greatest batsmen of the West Indies, has participated in five ICC tournaments in his cricket career in which he played 31 matches and scored 970 runs at an average of 40.41 with one-century and four half-centuries.
11. Muttiah Muralitharan (1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011) :
Spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharan, one of the greatest bowlers in the history of world cricket, is also one of the best bowlers in this tournament. He is the second-highest wicket-taker in the ODI World Cup tournament, ahead of him Glenn McGrath is only 3 Wickets. Murali is one of the players to have played in 3 World Cup finals in his career which he played in 1996, 2007 and 2011. He has participated in 40 matches of ICC World Cup tournaments in which he took 68 wickets at an average of 19.63. He is the only bowler among the five players to play in five World Cups for Sri Lanka.
12. Jacques Kallis (1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011) :
Jacques Kallis is the only South African player to appear in five ICC ODI World Cups. Jacques is one of South Africa’s greatest all-rounder. Jacques Kallis participated in five ICC World Cup tournaments between 1996 and 2011. He announced his retirement in 2014. Jacques Kallis played 36 matches in the ICC World Cup tournament in which he scored 1148 runs at an average of 45.62 which included one century and two half-centuries. He also showed his strength as a bowler in which he took 21 wickets.
13. Thomas Odoyo (1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011):
Former allrounder Thomas, one of Kenya’s greatest players, is one of only two players from the country to play in five ODI Cricket World Cups with a non-Test team. Thomas played his first ODI in the ICC tournament in 1996 and played his last in the ICC tournament in 2011. He was also a part of the team that reached the semi-finals of Kenya in 2003. He played 25 matches in which he scored 465 runs with 1 century at an average of 24.36 and he also showed his talent in bowling in which he took 23 wickets.
14. Ricky Ponting (1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011) :
Ricky Ponting is the second captain in the world who has made his country win two consecutive World Cup tournaments. He achieved this feat by winning the 2003 and 2007 ODI World Cups. Ricky Ponting is the second-highest scorer in World Cup cricket history. Ponting played 40 matches and scored 1763 runs at an average of 45.86, including 5 centuries and 6 half-centuries. His 140 not out in the 2003 final is his highest score in this ICC tournament.
15. Steve Tikolo (1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011) :
Steve Tikolo is another player who is from a non-test cricket team and he participated in five ICC tournaments. He is also a player of the Kenya team. He also captained the team during his career. Tikolo played 28 matches in the World Cup in which he scored 768 runs at an average of 29 points 53, which included 8 half-centuries. He also showed his talent with bowling in which he took 15 wickets.
16. Shahid Afridi (1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, and 2015) :
Shaheen Afridi is one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of Pakistan cricket. He always performed with his bat and ball whenever the team needed him. He was the joint-highest wicket-taker in the 2011 ODI World Cup. Shahid Afridi played 23 matches in ICC tournaments in which he took 30 wickets with a very low economy rate, one of which was 4.51.
17. Mahela Jayawardene (1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, and 2015):
Former captain Mahila Jayawardene, one of the greatest players of Sri Lanka, is one of the five players from Sri Lanka to participate in five ICC tournaments. He scored a century against India in the final of the 2011 World Cup tournament. He played her first ICC tournament in 1999 and played his last ICC tournament in 2015. Jayawardene played a total of 40 matches in which she scored 1100 runs at an average of 35.48, including four centuries and 5 half-centuries.
18. Mushfiqur Rahim (2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023) :
Mustafiqur Rahim is one of two players for Bangladesh to have played in five ICC tournaments. He played his first ICC tournament in 2007. He is playing his fifth ICC tournament in 13 editions of the ICC tournament to be held in 2023. He is a wicketkeeper-batsman who has scored important matches for his team. Mustafiqur. Rahim has played 30 matches so far in which he has scored 877 runs at an average of 38.13 with one century and six centuries.
19. Shakib Al Hasan (2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023) :
Bangladesh team’s greatest player Shakib Al Hasan is playing his fifth ICC tournament in the 13 editions of 2023 he is one of the two players who are playing their fifth ICC tournament in the 2023 ICC tournament, the other player Mustafiqur Rahim is also his teammate.
Shakib Al Hasan played his first in the ICC tournament in 2007. Till now he has played 29 innings in which he has scored 1146 runs at an average of 45.84 with 2 centuries and 10 half-centuries, he has also shown his strength in bowling and has taken 37 wickets in which his best performance has been 5 wickets for 29 runs.
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