MUSCAT: Oman are just one win away from securing direct qualification for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers 2027 as they prepare for a decisive leg of the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 in the United Arab Emirates from October 25 to November 4.
Led by captain Vinayak Shukla and coached by Sulakshan Kulkarni, Oman will face the Netherlands twice and hosts UAE twice in the ninth leg of the competition, knowing that a victory could seal their place in the next stage of the qualification pathway to the 2027 World Cup, to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia from February 26.
Oman team left for Dubai on Sunday and will begin their campaign against the Netherlands on October 27, followed by a clash with the UAE on October 29. They will face the Dutchmen again on November 2 before concluding their fixtures against the hosts on November 4.
The team arrived in the UAE looking to bounce back from a modest showing in their previous home series, where they won only one of four matches. Despite that setback, Oman remain fourth in the League 2 standings with 33 points from 32 matches, having recorded 15 wins, 14 defeats and three no-results.
The Netherlands occupy third place with 40 points from 33 matches, while Namibia are fifth, also on 33 points, having played four more games than Oman. The top four teams in the standings advance to the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier, making the upcoming fixtures crucial for Oman’s campaign.
The squad features a blend of experience and emerging talent, with Shukla leading a 14-member group that includes Jatinder Singh, Hammad Mirza, Mujibur Ali, Aryan Bisht, Muhammed Imran, Shakeel Ahmad, Jay Odedra, Shah Faisal, Hassnain Ali Shah, Samay Shrivastava, Hassnain Wahab, Saishiv Narayan and debutant Jeet Shah.
Former Oman fast bowler Muhammed Nadeem has joined the coaching setup as bowling coach, bringing valuable experience to the support staff as the team prepares for the challenge ahead.
The side will be guided by Duleep Mendis. The support staff also includes manager Zeeshan Siddiqui, assistant coach Ashim Narang, strength and conditioning coach Shiva Manhas, physiotherapist Ashish Awasthi and masseur Bashir Ahmad.
Oman’s immediate focus will be on making a strong start against the Netherlands, one of the leading teams in the competition, before turning their attention to the UAE. With qualification within reach, the team will be keen to translate its potential into results and build momentum across the four matches.
One victory could be enough to seal qualification. Oman now have the opportunity to deliver when it matters most.
2027 World Cup Qualifiers
The 2027 World Cup Qualifiers are scheduled to be played between February 26 and March 21. The 10-team tournament will include West Indies. Ireland are the other Full Member nation who will participate in the qualifiers, based on the ICC's ODI rankings as at September 30.
Co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe were given automatic qualification to the World Cup, along with the next eight teams in the rankings. That includes India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Australia, England, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
The remaining four teams will be decided via the 10-team qualifier, with the winner advancing straight to the group stage of the World Cup and the remaining three teams set to play a three-match Super Series to kick off the tournament. The winner of that Super Series, to be played in Namibia, will then move on to the main group.
The qualifiers will also include the top four teams from Cricket World Cup League 2 (CWC L2) - currently Scotland, USA, Netherlands and Oman - and four other teams that come through a World Cup qualifier playoff, which is set to be played from December 1-22 at a venue yet to be decided.
The playoff competition will include the bottom four teams of CWC L2 - currently Namibia, Canada, Nepal and UAE - and the top four teams from the Challenge League. As things stand those are: Italy, Uganda, Jersey and Kuwait.