Oman Cricket: Hard working Oman hoping for positive results at Desert T20

Sports Sunday 01/January/2017 22:37 PM
By: Times News Service
Oman Cricket: Hard working Oman hoping for positive results at Desert T20

Muscat: With Oman Cricket providing the right kind of support and coach Duleep Mendis’ support staff trying to get the best out of the players, Oman team are working hard to achieve positive results at the forthcoming Desert T20 International Tournament to be organised in the UAE later this month.
The tournament, to be hosted by the Emirates Cricket Board under the auspices of the International Cricket Council (ICC), will take place at two different venues — Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Cricket Stadium and Dubai International Cricket Stadium — from January 8 to 21.
The tournament was originally planned as a competition for all ICC Associate teams with T20 International status but Papua New Guinea’s non-availability led to the organisers inviting Namibia to complete the eight-team line-up.
With the exception of Nambia, all other teams that will be seen in action have international T20 status.
And according to the latest list of fixtures released by the organisers, Oman are placed in tough Group B along with the Netherlands, Scotland and Hong Kong. Afghanistan heads Group A, which also comprises Ireland, Namibia and the hosts UAE.
According to Oman Cricket General Secretary Madhu Jesrani, Team Oman are ‘working hard’ in the ongoing domestic training camp and are hoping to do the Sultanate proud in the UAE tournament with positive results.
Speaking to Times Sport on Sunday, Madhu Jesrani said: “The camp has been going on well. Though (head coach) Duleep Mendis has taken a brief break, the players have been working hard under the watchful eyes of assistant coach Mazhar Saleem Khan and other staff.”
“The players in particular have been working hard and trying to improve in all aspects of their game. There is certain positive attitude among this bunch of players and their enthusiasm is very infectious. Their morale is high and it looks like they are ready for the challenge and give their best in the Desert T20,” he added.
Twenty of Oman’s best cricketers, including Munis Ansari who was not among the original list of probables, are attending the training camp that runs till January 8.
Asked about the inclusion of Munis Ansari and the final list of players for the tournament, Madhu Jesrani said: “The selectors and the coach felt he is fit and ready to be included among the probables. So Munis is back, and like all other players he is working hard and hoping to give his best.”
“The team will be pruned to 18. But the selectors will take the call in that regard in a day or two. Coach Duleep Mendis is expected to return on Tuesday or Wednesday,” he added.
Echoing Madhu’s views, assistant coach Mazher Saleem Khan, meanwhile, said all the players attending the camp are in a positive frame of mind and are working very hard despite their other commitments.
“The players have been showing tremendous commitment since we have started the camp on December 5. They are working very hard... considering that they have to train with and turn up for their respective teams in the league matches, and not to forget their work commitments. Despite all these engagements, they have been regular at the camps, attending two sessions both in the mornings and evenings.”
Mazhar also said the coaching staff are in constant touch with Duleep Mendis, trying to effectively implement the latter’s philosophy of coaching and make the boys ready for the challenge in the UAE.
“Though he is away, coach Duleep is in touch with us on a daily basis and we are trying to implement all his ideas while trying to improve the players in all aspects,” he said while confirming that Duleep Mendis will return to Muscat on Wednesday.
Thanking Oman Cricket for giving the team good support, Mazher Saleem made a special mention about the role played by the entire staff, including physical trainer Dr M.V. Manjunath, physio-cum-trainer J. Premanth and physio Suresh, in shaping the players.
“Thanks to these three key members, all the players are shaping up well and they are really in peak physical condition than they were before,” he said.
Speaking about the improvement among the players, he said: “What is very obvious and impressive is the players' attitude. They are looking very positive. They are also very enthusiastic ... to improve and perform well.”
“As I said fitness wise, they are in a higher level. There is also a very healthy competition among themselves and they all want to be part of the team,” Mazhar said while refusing to delve into the issue of who will make it or who will miss the bus to the UAE.
In the Desert T20I, Oman will begin their campaign against the Netherlands on January 15 before taking on Hong Kong and Scotland on January 16 and 19 respectively. The semifinals and final are scheduled for January 20.
Oman are also expected to play some warm-up games before the tournament proper starts on January 14.
Oman probables: Khawar Ali, Zeeshan Maqsoood, Arun Poulose, Jatinder Singh, Ajay Lalcheta, Rajesh Ranpura, Sufyan Mahmood, Zeeshan Siddique, Mohammed Nadeem, Bilal Khan, Mehran Khan, Kaleemullah, Nester Dhamba, Aaqib Ilyas, Khurram Khan, Sultan Ahmed, Naseem Kushi, Amir Ali, Shuaib Ismail and Munis Ansari.
Fixtures
Group A: Afghanistan, Ireland, Namibia, UAE.
Group B: The Netherlands, Scotland, Oman, Hong Kong.
January 14: Scotland vs Hong Kong at Abu Dhabi Zayed Cricket Stadium, 2.00 pm; Afghanistan vs Ireland at Abu Dhabi Zayed Cricket Stadium 7.00 PM.
January 15: Netherlands vs Oman at Abu Dhabi Zayed Cricket Stadium, 2.00 pm; UAE vs Namibia at Abu Dhabi Zayed Cricket Stadium, 7.00 pm.
January 16: Oman vs Hong Kong at Abu Dhabi Zayed Cricket Stadium, 2.00 pm; Afghanistan vs UAE at Abu Dhabi Zayed Cricket Stadium, 7.00 pm.
January 17: Ireland vs Namibia at Abu Dhabi Zayed Cricket Stadium, 2.00 pm; Netherlands vs Scotland at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, 7.00 pm.
January 18: UAE vs Ireland at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, 2.00 pm; Netherlands vs Hong Kong at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, 7.00 pm.
January 19: Afghanistan vs Namibia at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, 2.00 pm; Scotland vs Oman at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, 7.00 pm.
January 20: 1st semifinal at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, 10.00 am; 2nd semifinal at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, 2.30 pm.
January 20: Final at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, 7.00 pm.