ARABIAN TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Oman will take a historic step in their cricket journey this September when they make their maiden appearance in the 2025 Men’s Asia Cup, to be staged in the UAE from September 9 to 28. Drawn in Group A alongside defending champions India, Pakistan and hosts UAE, the national team players, under head coach Duleep Mendis, will get a rare opportunity to test themselves against some of the biggest names in world cricket.
The eight-team tournament to be played in T20I format features the five ACC full-member nations, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, along with three Associate qualifiers, UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong. Oman booked their berth by finishing as runners-up in the 2024 ACC Men’s Premier Cup, a strong campaign that underscored the side’s growing reputation in Asian cricket.
Oman have also built an impressive record in the shortest format on the global stage, being the only associate Asian team having qualified for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup three times, in 2016, 2021 and 2024, with their 2016 debut highlighted by a memorable win over Ireland. For Mendis, the Asia Cup is a landmark opportunity his players must fully embrace. “This is a wonderful opportunity for Oman to play in the Asia Cup alongside Test-playing nations,” said the Sri Lankan great.
Mendis, who also serves as the Chief Development Officer & Head Coach of Oman Cricket (OC) added: “It’s not every day you get to compete against the big boys, India and Pakistan. Every Omani cricketer dreams of moments like this, and our players should seize it with both hands and give their maximum. In T20 cricket, it’s anybody’s game. We are preparing well, and plan to arrange pre-tour matches against good opposition teams. Our focus is on doing well in the Asia Cup before hosting the T20 World Cup qualifiers in Oman.
Oman Cricket (OC) treasurer Alkesh Joshi hailed the team’s qualification as the result of years of dedication and strategic development. Qualifying to play alongside five full-member Test nations is a testament to the quality of our squad and the work Oman Cricket has put in over the years,” Joshi said. We are delighted to be in the same group as India and Pakistan. Many of our players have grown up watching the greats from these countries, and playing against them will be a massive learning experience.
Joshi added: “Appearing in three ICC Men’s T20 World Cups is something we can all be proud of, and having Oman’s name on a stage watched by hundreds of millions gives us a chance to showcase the quality of cricket we’re building here.” The senior OC official said: “We have an exciting support team led by coach Mendis and newly appointed deputy head coach Sulakshan Kulkarni, and we are grateful to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for its unwavering support.”
“We hope our fans turn out in large numbers to cheer for the national team when we take the field against India, Pakistan and the UAE,” he added. Now, with the Asia Cup stage set, the players are preparing to give their all – and, in the unpredictable world of T20I cricket, perhaps spring a few surprises against the continent’s giants in a format where, as Mendis reminds his players, “T20 is anybody’s game.”
