Upheaval, exits and a reset: Oman return with a rebuilt World Cup squad

Oman's Red Brigade, having qualified comfortably for their fourth appearance in five editions, are now a familiar fixture at the T20 World Cup. Yet the team travelling to Sri Lanka bears little resemblance to the one that last took to the biggest stage, with veterans Shakeel Ahmed and Mohammad Nadeem the only two survivors from the 2024 World Cup squad. The wholesale changes following a pay dispute that came to a head at the T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup in 2024 left Oman tasked with an unprecedented rebuilding project. The new-look side has begun to find form under returning skipper Jatinder Singh, securing qualification by finishing second behind Nepal in the combined Asia-EAP qualifier. Facing four full members in Group B will be a stern test for a squad with limited top-level experience, measuring the Sultanate's resilience after a tumultuous period.

The squad, and what it tells us

Jatinder Singh (c), Vinayak Shukla (wk), Wasim Ali, Hammad Mirza (wk), Nadeem Khan, Karan Sonavale, Ashish Odedara, Mohammad Nadeem, Shakeel Ahmed, Shah Faisal, Sufyan Mehmood, Jay Odedra, Shafiq Jan, Jiten Ramanandi, Amir Kaleem, Hasnain Ali Shah (injured)

Eighteen players have debuted for Oman since the last T20 World Cup, but selection has stabilized recently, suggesting the new team is beginning to gel. Oman are sticking with a similar squad to the one that won qualification—a mix of returning veterans like skipper Singh, Amir Kaleem, and Sufyan Mehmood, and newer faces like Vinayak Shukla, Jiten Ramanandi, and Shafiq Jan.

The transformation remains more a renewal than rejuvenation; with an average age near 34, Oman are once again the oldest squad at the tournament. Notably, no recent youth team graduates made the final cut, with Aryan Bisht and Muhazir Raza omitted, indicating a continued preference for experience over youth in major tournaments.

The frontline seam attack is relatively inexperienced internationally—Jan, Ramanandi, and Shah Faisal are all recent debutants. The injury replacement of seamer Hasnain Shah with seasoned spin all-rounder Amir Kaleem, rather than a like-for-like swap, is telling. A seasoned, spin-heavy formula has served Oman well recently, and Singh will have ample slow-bowling options in Sri Lanka.

The road to the World Cup

The immediate effects of the 2024 upheaval appear to have worn off just in time. After a string of eight consecutive defeats, Oman have lost only one of their last nine full T20Is.

Spared sub-regional qualifiers due to their 2024 T20 World Cup qualification, the new Red Brigade hit form at the right time. Aided by home conditions at the combined Asia-EAP Regional final last October, they finished runners-up to Nepal, ahead of Gulf rivals. They made a fortress of Al-Amerat, conceding only one 150-plus score during the tournament and warm-ups. However, Nepal's 151 against them proved too much, raising questions about the batting unit's ability to post substantial scores if required.

An experimental side showed promise at the Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament in November, narrowly beating hosts UAE and showing fight with the bat against Pakistan A and India A. Yet away wins have been scarce, as have victories over full member sides. Their last win over a Test-playing nation was by a very different side against Ireland at home in 2019. They face no easy assignments at this World Cup.

Last five T20Is: W-W-L-W-W

Oman's strategic shift in recent years is mirrored in the transformation of Al Amerat—once a seamer-friendly venue, now a spin fortress. Questions remain about Oman's ability to win away from home (only three away wins in the last two years, all in the Gulf), but the formula that secured their fourth World Cup should translate reasonably well to Sri Lanka.

With the bat, the plan is to attack in the PowerPlay, consolidate if needed, and accelerate again at the death. Skipper Jatinder Singh aims to provide early impetus, with deputy Vinayak Shukla marshalling the lower order. With the ball, Oman prefer to strangle with spin, rarely employing attacking fields or seam at both ends, even in the PowerPlay. With Shakeel Ahmed, Wasim Ali, Nadeem Khan, and the recalled Amir Kaleem (the latter three all capable batters), Singh has abundant left-arm spin options. Given the preponderance of right-handed batsmen in their Group B opposition, Oman's wealth of southpaw spin and seam options could be a significant advantage. While ground fielding remains a weakness and the pace attack is untested at the highest level, Oman have a workable game plan and the skills to challenge more illustrious opponents.

Who can bend a match in 10 balls

Oman have impact batters in Singh and Shukla, but their greatest strength lies in unspectacular, economical bowlers like Shakeel Ahmed or Nadeem Khan, who can strangle the opposition, conceding just seven or eight runs off ten balls to shift momentum.

Oman will enjoy immobility in the first phase, with all warm-ups and group games in Sri Lanka, split between the SSC in Colombo and Pallekele in Kandy. While Sri Lanka will have home advantage and crowd support, Oman may feel more at home in these conditions than Zimbabwe, Ireland, or Australia. They will have a sighter of Zimbabwe, playing them in both a warm-up and their opening match.

With four full members in their group, Oman will be underdogs in every game. They may have identified their opening match against Zimbabwe as their best chance for a win, meaning they must hit the ground running.

What a good World Cup looks like

A Super Over defeat to Namibia denied them a win at the last edition, and it has been almost a decade since Oman last beat a Test-playing nation at a T20 World Cup. Defeating Ireland again would be less of a shock upset now than in 2016, and Oman will aim to add at least one more full-member scalp this time. Progressing to the next stage remains improbable for an untried side, but going home winless again would be a disappointment.