Oman Confident of Challenging Australia in 100-ball Cricket Clash
Oman captain Aqib Ilyas has urged his team to treat their upcoming match against Australia at the Kensington Oval in Barbados as just another game, and not be intimidated by the star-studded opposition lineup.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Ilyas emphasized the importance of his players maintaining a positive mindset and not getting bogged down by the reputation of the Australian cricketers. > “Once you step into the field, there is no big name, there is no one bigger than you at the field,” he said. “It’s another game for us and we don’t think that we are going to play someone extraordinary.”
Oman have already had a taste of the challenging conditions at the Kensington Oval, having played a low-scoring affair against Namibia in the opening round. Ilyas believes the pitch could play into his side’s favor, with the potential for spin to pose problems for the powerful Australian batting lineup.
“You see the last match, how the ball was turning and staying low,” Ilyas noted. “[Australia] had a few good technique players [against spin] in the past like [Steven] Smith and [Marnus] Labuschagne but I don’t think they have many now. They look to hit big. Everyone tries to go for sixes but every day it is not the same day and if the same wicket is there, maybe it can be a problem for them.”
The Oman captain acknowledged the quality of the Australian team but emphasized the need for his players to focus on their own game and not be intimidated by the reigning world champions across all three formats. > “No doubt there are big names, but [to] our boys, what I say is if they take on Starc tomorrow, imagine someone taking on Starc or any of the top bowlers, how much highlight he will get.”
While Australia may have the edge in terms of experience and pedigree, Ilyas is confident that Oman can give them a tough fight, especially if the conditions suit their bowling attack. > “It’s just about the areas because the ball doesn’t know how big the batsman in front of it [is]. If it turns a bit, it stays low or anything happens, the batsman is gone.”
The match promises to be an intriguing clash between the minnows and the cricketing giants, with Oman determined to showcase their abilities on the world stage and make a mark in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
🔗 Source