COLOMBO: A decade may have passed, but the mention of Dharamshala still brings a quiet smile to the Omani dressing room.
It was there, on March 9, 2016, in the serene Indian hill town, that Oman scripted one of the finest chapters in their cricket history - stunning Ireland in their maiden appearance at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. The victory was more than just two points; it was a declaration that Oman belonged on the global stage.
On Thursday night in Pallekele, that win resurfaced in conversation over team dinner following the heavy loss to Sri Lanka, not as nostalgia, but as a reminder.
Oman return to action on Saturday morning (9.30am, Oman time) at the historic Sinhalese Sports Club in Group B of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, facing Ireland. The two sides have met several times since 2016, but that breakthrough triumph continues to carry emotional weight, particularly as Oman seek to halt a two-match losing streak in this tournament.
The campaign so far for Duleep Mendis’ men has been unforgiving. Oman were beaten by Zimbabwe in their opener, outplayed by eight wickets, and then trounced by Sri Lanka by 105 runs in Pallekele on Thursday. The defeat to the hosts was bruising, made heavier by more than four-hour road journey to Colombo on Friday morning.
Amid the disappointment against Sri Lanka, Mohammad Nadeem stood tall with an unbeaten half-century, a defiant effort that offered a glimpse of what Oman are capable of when execution meets intent.
On Friday, the senior all-rounder admitted the 2016 victory was discussed within the squad at the pre-match press conference.
“We have met with some success against Ireland in the past, both in T20Is and ODIs and believe that we have a chance. We have had good games against them, so hopefully tomorrow will be a good day. We all want to have a good game before playing Australia,” Nadeem said.
“The win in 2016 was a decade ago and we still have two of the playing members of that squad with us - skipper Jatinder Singh and Aamir Kaleem. We have to be positive and play fearlessly. That is the mantra for tomorrow’s match.”
For Nadeem, the lessons from defeats against more established sides are part of the journey.
“As Associate nations we don’t get many chances to play against Test-playing nations, and this reflected in our contests so far here. It is a learning curve for us when we play these top nations who have a world of experience.”
On becoming the oldest cricketer to score a half-century in a T20 World Cup, Nadeem said: “I believe I am lucky. I am very happy to have achieved the milestone, having played for so long. I am happy that I could contribute to the team but sad that we lost badly.”
Ireland, too, arrive wounded. Losses to Sri Lanka and Australia have stalled their campaign, and the injury to skipper Paul Stirling, ruled out with a knee ligament issue, has disrupted their balance. Acting captain Lorcan Tucker acknowledged the challenge.
“He has been a vital part of our team for the last - God knows how long - 15 years now at this stage. He’s had a significant influence on my own career,” Tucker said, as he prepares to lead Ireland for the first time in a World Cup.
He was quick to dismiss any suggestion of complacency against Oman.
“They have improved a lot over the past ten years and we are expecting a good fight. Given the performances of Associate teams in this World Cup, it would be naïve to take Oman lightly. We have done research on them. We are ready and well prepared. We know that it’s not going to be easy, but we have to rock up and play well.”
Ireland hold a 4-2 edge in six T20I meetings between the teams, and Oman have not beaten them since 2019. Yet history, however distant, has a way of resurfacing at moments like this.
With cloudy skies forecast and rain looming over Colombo, Saturday’s contest may be shaped by more than just tactics. For Oman, however, the objective is clear: rediscover the fearless edge that once lit up Dharamshala, execute better in key moments, and ensure this campaign does not drift without resistance.
Ten years ago, they announced themselves against Ireland. On Saturday, they seek to remind both their opponents - and themselves - of what they are capable of.
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