In an extraordinary and historic moment, Timor-Leste became the first country in nearly 150 years of cricketing history to field a father and son in the same international match. The remarkable feat occurred during Timor-Leste’s debut appearance in international cricket, instantly etching their name into the sport’s history books.
The Historic Match
The milestone took place on 6 November in Bali, Indonesia, during a tri-nation T20I series featuring Indonesia, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste. In their inaugural international fixture, Timor-Leste’s Suhail Sattar and his 17-year-old son, Yahya Suhail, took the field together — marking a never-before-seen moment in men’s international cricket.
| Match Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Tri-Nation Series (Bali, Indonesia) |
| Teams | Indonesia vs Timor-Leste |
| Date | 6 November 2025 |
| Debut Nation | Timor-Leste (111th ICC Member) |
| Father | Suhail Sattar (50 years old) |
| Son | Yahya Suhail (17 years old) |
| Timor-Leste Total | 61 all out |
| Indonesia Result | Won by 10 wickets (in 4 overs) |
Batting at number three, 50-year-old Suhail Sattar top-scored for his side with 14 runs off 15 balls, showing glimpses of experience and composure. His teenage son, Yahya, came in at number five and managed just 1 run off 6 balls before being run out. Timor-Leste’s innings ended at a modest 61 runs, which Indonesia chased down effortlessly within four overs without losing a wicket.
A Rare Family Legacy in Cricket
This father-son combination is a unique event in men’s international cricket — something that had never occurred before at this level. However, family pairings have been seen in women’s cricket, where mother-daughter duos have taken the field together. Earlier this year, 45-year-old Methi Fernandez and her 17-year-old daughter Naina Methi Saju represented Switzerland in six international T20 matches.
In domestic cricket, similar family stories have occasionally surfaced. Notably, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and his son Tagenarine Chanderpaul played 11 first-class matches together for Guyana, with Shivnarine even captaining the side in one of those encounters in 2014.
More recently, in Afghanistan’s Shpageeza Cricket League, star all-rounder Mohammad Nabi played for MIS Ainak Knights, while his son Hasan Eisakhil represented the opposing side, Amo Sharks, in the tournament final.
A Symbolic Beginning
For Timor-Leste, the Suhail duo’s appearance marks not only a historic cricketing record but also a symbolic beginning of a new sporting journey. As the 111th ICC member nation, their entry into international cricket — highlighted by this touching family moment — represents the spirit of growth, unity, and generational connection that continues to define the global reach of the game.