MUSCAT: With four Test-playing nations in fray and few other Associate nations having previous World Cup experience, Oman’s showing at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier received a thumbs up from none other than their coach Duleep Mendis.
Team Red, skippered by Zeeshan Maqsood, stunned the cricketing world in their opening match of the Qualifier when they upset Test-playing and fancied Ireland side to begin their campaign on a rousing note. The Qualifer concludes on Sunday with a final match between Sri Lanka and Netherlands with both teams already securing a spot in the ODI World Cup to be played later this year in India.
And as if to send a message that the win over Ireland was no fluke, Oman defeated neighbouring UAE team for making it two wins in a row. Following those successive victories, Oman managed to earn a place in the Super Six, “an achievement to be proud of” in the words of former Sri Lankan great Mendis.
Mendis, who has been with the national team for the past decade and more, has been instrumental in leading Oman to two T20 World Cups and the sixth-place finish in the ODI World Cup Qualifier is the best result for the team in their history. Oman had previously competed in World Cup Qualifier twice in 2005 (Ireland) and 2009 (South Africa).
In Ireland, Oman finished ninth among 12 participating nations while in South Africa, Oman ended 11th among 12 nations. The Zimbabwe Qualifier was the third time Oman had reached the final round of the World Cup qualification.
The latest showing in Zimbabwe where Oman were one of the three Associate nations (Netherlands and Scotland being the other two) to make it to the Super Six stage was something that Mendis is proud of and termed his team’s show in the Qualifier as “super performance”.
Speaking after the team’s return to Muscat on Friday morning to a warm welcome by Oman Cricket board members at the Muscat International Airport, Mendis said: “When we departed for Zimbabwe Qualifier, we were one of the teams least expected to make it to the Super Six stage. We surprised all by upsetting Ireland, a Test-playing nation in the opening clash to have a dream start to our campaign. It was a historic win, first against a Test-playing nation in an ODI"
“We had a wonderful and successful tour in Zimbabwe. I think all the cricket fans of Oman can be proud and happy of the boys’ show in the Qualifier,” Mendis signed off.
During the ICC World Cup Qualifier, there were individual milestones achieved by Oman cricketers with vice-captain Aqib Ilyas becoming the fastest Associate batter to reach 1,000 ODI runs. Aqib also the tenth fastest in the world, Aqib reached 1,000 runs in just 22 innings.
Ayaan Khan achieved the milestone of reaching 1,000 runs in ODI during the Super Six match and mark in 31 innings.
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