MUSCAT: Oman’s head coach, Duleep Mendis, emphasised the importance of strategic planning, team rebuilding and exposure to tough international conditions as the national cricket team gears up for the remaining 20 matches in the ongoing ICC World Cup League 2 (WCL 2), a crucial pathway to the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup.
In a recent interview after the conclusion of the WCL 2 tri-series at home in February that witnessed Oman compete with USA and Namibia, Mendis reflected on his team’s recent performances, highlighting both the challenges and progress made.
Oman currently hold the second position in the WCL 2 standings, having accumulated 18 points from 16 matches, with a net run rate (NRR) of +0.013.
The United States lead with 22 points from 16 matches and an NRR of +0.602, while Canada trail closely with 17 points but has played 13 games. The Netherlands are fourth with 17 points from 14 games, while Scotland [14 points, 11 games], Namibia [12pts, 17 games], Nepal [6pts, 12 games] and the UAE [4pts, 11 games] complete the standings as on March 5.
Mendis admitted that the team faced significant challenges during their start of the WCL 2 campaign last year that featured tours of Scotland and Canada, particularly in dealing with unfamiliar playing conditions.
“The hybrid pitches in Scotland, July 2024, were extremely green, making it difficult to differentiate the wicket from the surrounding area,” he recollected.
“We didn’t perform well there, but we played without complaints. Similarly, in Canada, September 2024, early morning matches had to be rescheduled due to wet conditions. Those challenges were all part of the learning process for our boys.”
Despite setbacks in the early rounds of the campaigns, Mendis remains optimistic as his boys have regrouped and found form in tri-series at home since November last year.
The home run saw Oman register a four-match winning streak in November and post two wins out of four in the tri-series that concluded on February 18.
Mendis said: “We had to quickly rebuild a complete new team after losing a large group of players late last October. Within just two days, we assembled a new squad and put them to the test during the Emerging Teams Asia Cup.“
"It was followed by the highly competitive WCL 2 tri-series at Oman Cricket Academy ground in Al Amerat in November, which featured the fancied Netherlands and the UAE teams. It was a tough and difficult phase for us, but we adapted well."
Oman’s resurgence has been driven by experienced players stepping up in crucial moments. The former Sri Lanka cricket great praised the impact of skipper Jatinder Singh, whose consistency has been vital to Oman’s victories in the WCL campaign.
He said, “Jatinder has carried his domestic form into the international stage, and that has been a huge boost for us. His contributions, along with other seniors like Aamir Kaleem, have given the team lot of confidence.”
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