Oman’s skipper, Aqib Ilyas, is confident his squad can create an upset in their T20 World Cup match against Australia at Kensington Oval, Barbados. He believes that they can attack Australia with spin.
In a news conference, Ilyas highlighted that Oman should play the match like any other and not be intimidated by Australia. Whereas, Australia is attempting to become the TOP ONE to capture global trophies in all three forms. Especially after their wins in the World Test Championship (WTC) and ODI World Cup last year.
Ilyas made it clear that this was not a lack of respect, but rather a tactic to convince Oman that they could compete with a great team.
“When you get onto the field, there is no huge name, no one bigger than you,” he explained. “It’s just another match for us, and we don’t expect to play anyone special.”
Oman vs. Australia: Strategy On The Field
Oman’s captain pointed out that both teams have qualified for the T20 WC, underscoring the opportunity for Oman to compete on an equal footing with Australia.
“I don’t have to go tell my team as captain that you’ll be facing Starc. It already comes to mind when you’re facing some of the best bowlers or cricketers. So management has been quite enthusiastic, as has the coach, who has stated that we don’t even take their names; it’s just a team that has arrived and is performing at the same level as us.” Aqib Ilyas stated.
“We qualified, they qualified, and one team will be the champion, so it doesn’t really matter, but we admire them and what they’ve done in the past. That is why they are referred to as world champions.”
No doubt there are big names, but [to] our boys, imagine someone taking on Starc or any of the great bowlers and how much attention he would receive.”, he added.
Oman has already played one game at Kensington Oval, a low-scoring match against Namibia that finished with a Super Over.
That was a difficult surface with uneven bounce and spin. But it appeared easier for batting during the day as Scotland put on a strong opening stand against England before the rain came. While a new pitch is expected for the Australia game, Ilyas believes the conditions will bring the teams closer together.
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Travis’s Relaxed Approach to Facing Oman
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Travis Head, who will begin the batting alongside David Warner, said he will keep to a routine and plan that has previously worked for him.
“My [preparation] is fairly relaxed,” he explained. “Over the next day or tonight, I’ll take a short look at some of the [Oman] men. You’ll get a lot of footage, but I’ll probably only watch a small amount during the warm-up to get a general understanding of who’s who.
Similar to my experience in India, I noticed bowl-throughs…Stand near them throughout the warm-up and observe what’s going on around the bowling equipment, then remain cool and comfortable.”
When asked if he would approach the Australian players differently after the match, Ilyas smiled and glinted. It all hinges on what happens after the game.
“They might take our name,” he remarked. Anything’s conceivable. This is cricket. We respect them. There is no such thing as not respecting others. We hold great regard for them as cricketers.” concluded the Oman skipper.
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About the Author
Zartash Zulfiqar is a passionate cricket writer whose love for cricket shines through in every word. From match analyses to player profiles, she delivers insightful commentary that resonates with fans worldwide. Stay tuned for the latest from the world of cricket, brought to you by Zartash.
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