Oman favourites against Namibia: Skipper Ilyas
Published: 04:06 PM,Jun 02,2024 | EDITED : 08:06 PM,Jun 02,2024
Oman captain Aqib Ilyas (right) with skippers of other Group B teams at Kensington Oval
Muscat: It seemed that even the rain gods wanted the Oman players to complete their training session at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Saturday afternoon. Minutes after Duleep Mendis, Oman’s head coach, concluded the team’s final training session, rain poured in for an hour before it halted.
Oman would hope the same [rains stay away] on Sunday night (Monday morning, 4.30am, Oman time) at the same venue when they launch their campaign in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup against Namibia in a Group B match.
Oman were the first team among the participating nations to arrive in the West Indies for the World Cup, which for the first time will feature an expanded version with 20 teams.
Oman's newly appointed skipper Aqib Ilyas exuded confidence in the team's preparations and said: “We have had excellent preparations, and the boys are raring to go. It is a big stage, but we are prepared to give our best.'
Ilyas, the team's star all-rounder, said: “The team benefited from the early arrival as the players got a good idea of the wicket and weather conditions. What is also in our favour in Bridgetown is that the wickets are on the slower side and resemble what we play in Muscat.'
Oman’s T20I head-to-head record against Namibia in the six games played is two wins and four defeats.
Asked who would be the key players in the squad, Ilyas was clear. He said: “The success will depend on how the whole team performs but admitted that seniors like Bilal Khan, the pace spearhead, and all-rounder Zeeshan Maqsood, along with himself, will have a larger role to shoulder in West Indies.'
Oman squad: Aqib Ilyas (c), Zeeshan Maqsood, Kashyap Prajapati, Pratik Athavale, Ayaan Khan, Shoaib Khan, Mohammad Nadeem, Naseem Khushi, Mehran Khan, Bilal Khan, Rafiullah, Kaleemullah, Fayyaz Butt, Shakeel Ahmad, Khalid Kail.
Oman would hope the same [rains stay away] on Sunday night (Monday morning, 4.30am, Oman time) at the same venue when they launch their campaign in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup against Namibia in a Group B match.
Oman were the first team among the participating nations to arrive in the West Indies for the World Cup, which for the first time will feature an expanded version with 20 teams.
Oman's newly appointed skipper Aqib Ilyas exuded confidence in the team's preparations and said: “We have had excellent preparations, and the boys are raring to go. It is a big stage, but we are prepared to give our best.'
Ilyas, the team's star all-rounder, said: “The team benefited from the early arrival as the players got a good idea of the wicket and weather conditions. What is also in our favour in Bridgetown is that the wickets are on the slower side and resemble what we play in Muscat.'
Oman’s T20I head-to-head record against Namibia in the six games played is two wins and four defeats.
Asked who would be the key players in the squad, Ilyas was clear. He said: “The success will depend on how the whole team performs but admitted that seniors like Bilal Khan, the pace spearhead, and all-rounder Zeeshan Maqsood, along with himself, will have a larger role to shoulder in West Indies.'
Oman squad: Aqib Ilyas (c), Zeeshan Maqsood, Kashyap Prajapati, Pratik Athavale, Ayaan Khan, Shoaib Khan, Mohammad Nadeem, Naseem Khushi, Mehran Khan, Bilal Khan, Rafiullah, Kaleemullah, Fayyaz Butt, Shakeel Ahmad, Khalid Kail.