Thursday 21 / November / 2024
Muscat: A full-strength Sri Lanka team will be touring Oman in October before proceeding to the UAE for the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup Round 1 matches where it will compete with Ireland, The Netherlands and Namibia for passage to the Super 12.
Oman’s weather and playing conditions are similar to the UAE, presenting an ideal platform to The Lions to prepare for the World Cup. The two T20 matches will be played on OC Ground 1 in Amerat on October 7 and 9.
“Sri Lanka will be playing two T20 matches against Oman during the tour and we are extremely pleased that they decided to come to Oman on their way to the UAE,” confirmed Oman coach Duleep Mendis.
“We are glad that the Oman team will be getting the opportunity to play a full-strength Sri Lanka squad which will participate in the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup Round 1. The two T20 matches will help both teams as Sri Lanka will have acclimatized before reaching the UAE and Oman would have a crack at a top side just before the tournament starts,” he added.
Sri Lanka is placed in Group A along with Ireland, The Netherlands and Namibia while Oman has Bangladesh, Scotland and PNG in Group B. Top two teams from each group will join cricket’s eight elite sides in the tournament’s Super 12 stage.
Coached by Mickey Arthur, Sri Lanka is a young side in transition with some exciting players in the ranks. The Lions recently beat touring India 3-1 in a four-match T20 series, though India were without many of its star players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah.
