Zimbabwe and Oman, two teams that qualified for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 through the qualification rounds, take on each other in Match No. 8 of the tournament. The Group B encounter is being played at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo, with the toss scheduled shortly.
While Zimbabwe enter the match as the higher-ranked side, Oman is known for their ability to surprise stronger opponents, making this an intriguing contest to kick off their World Cup campaigns.
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Zimbabwe eye early momentum
Led by Sikandar Raza, Zimbabwe will look to make a positive start in Group B. With Sri Lanka and Ireland also part of the group, the Zimbabweans will see this match as an opportunity to gain early momentum and boost their chances of progressing further in the tournament.
Raza’s all-round abilities and leadership will be key as Zimbabwe aim to assert itself from the very first game.
Oman aims to upset the odds
Oman, captained by Jatinder Singh, are playing their fourth T20 World Cup and are no strangers to the pressure of global tournaments. The team will be eager to register a win and become the first side in the competition to defeat a higher-ranked opponent.
Known for disciplined bowling and spirited performances, Oman will look to catch Zimbabwe off guard.
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Probable playing XIs
Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Dion Myers, Brendan Taylor (WK), Sikandar Raza (C), Ryan Burl, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Graeme Cremer
Oman: Jatinder Singh (C), Aamir Kaleem, Hammad Mirza, Wasim Ali, Karan Sonavale, Vinayak Shukla (WK), Jiten Ramanandi, Nadeem Khan, Shakeel Ahmed, Mohammad Nadeem, Jay Odedra
When and where to watch?
The Zimbabwe vs Oman match begins at 3:00 am IST on Monday, February 9. The game will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network, with live streaming available on JioHotstar.
