Zimbabwe began their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group B campaign against Oman on Monday at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, opting to field first after captain Sikandar Raza won the toss. The early decision reflected Zimbabwe’s intent to apply pressure with the ball and seize momentum in their opening match of the tournament.
Led by the experienced Raza, Zimbabwe entered the contest aiming for a strong start to their World Cup journey. The African side has placed emphasis on disciplined bowling and sharp fielding, with their pace attack expected to play a key role on the Colombo surface. Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani opened the bowling, looking to exploit any early movement on offer.
Oman, meanwhile, were eager to make a statement against higher-ranked opposition. The Asian side has steadily built a reputation for competitiveness in global tournaments and approached the fixture with confidence. Their batting effort was led by Aamir Kaleem at the top of the order as they looked to settle quickly after being put in to bat.
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Much of the spotlight ahead of the match was on Omani pacer Sufiyan Mehmood, the team’s only homegrown player in the squad. Since the previous T20 World Cup, Mehmood has taken 19 wickets in 16 T20 internationals, making him Oman’s second-highest wicket-taker in that period, behind Shakeel Ahmed. His ability to strike at crucial moments remains central to Oman’s bowling plans later in the match.
At the time of reporting, Oman were 7 for 1 after 1.1 overs, with Zimbabwe maintaining tight lines and early control. The run rate hovered around six, indicating a cautious start from the batting side as they assessed conditions.
With both teams eyeing valuable points in a competitive Group B, the match promises to be a test of composure and execution. Zimbabwe will look to capitalise on early breakthroughs, while Oman aim to build partnerships and post a challenging total as the contest unfolds in Colombo.
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