Thursday 09 / January / 2025
MUSCAT: The Oman national cricket team is gearing up to defend their Gulf Cup T20 title as the tournament returns from December 13 to 21 in Dubai.
Six teams - Oman, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia - will battle it out at the ICC Academy Ground, with the final scheduled at the iconic Dubai International Stadium.
Oman’s coach, Duleep Mendis, exuded confidence ahead of the team’s departure for the UAE on December 11. Reflecting on Oman’s recent achievements, he said, “The boys are full of confidence and have shown they can do well. We had a successful run in the Cricket World Cup League 2, which, although a 50-over tournament, has added to our momentum. The recent win over the Netherlands in the T20 has further boosted the team’s morale.”
With a new-look squad, Mendis expressed satisfaction with the team’s readiness. “I’m hopeful that the boys will perform well and bring the trophy back. They’ve performed admirably, and I believe they’re ready for the challenge,” he added.
Under the leadership of experienced skipper Jatinder Singh, Oman will begin their campaign against hosts UAE on December 14.
This will be followed by matches against Qatar (December 15), Kuwait (December 17), Bahrain (December 18), and Saudi Arabia (December 19). The single round-robin format promises intense competition, culminating in the final on December 21.
Oman’s victory in the inaugural Gulf Cup T20 last year remains a significant milestone, where they defeated the UAE in a thrilling final. The team is eager to replicate that success and defend their title.
The Gulf Cup T20 provides a platform for cricketing nations in the region to showcase their talent and grow the sport. For Oman, it is an opportunity to solidify their reputation as a formidable cricketing side, especially after their international successes in recent years.
As Oman embarks to defend the title, fans eagerly await to see if the team can once again rise to the occasion and bring home the trophy.
Oman’s squad: Jatinder Singh (captain), Aamir Kaleem, Ashish Odedera, Hammad Mirza, Mohammad Nadeem, Sufyan Mehmood, Mehran Khan, Shakeel Ahmed, Jay Odedera, Muzahir Raza, Karan Sonavale, Samay Shrivastava, Wasim Ali, and Vinayak Shukla.
