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Oman Captain Issues Bold Challenge to Australia Before T20 World Cup 2024 Showdown
Oman’s captain, Aqib Ilyas, is optimistic about his team’s chances of causing an upset against Australia in their T20 World Cup match at Kensington Oval, Barbados.
As a cancer survivor, Ilyas thinks the Australians’ vulnerability to spin and their heavy reliance on hitting sixes can be exploited. He also believes that the unpredictable weather and the worn pitch conditions could favor Oman.
Ilyas Predicts Spin and Weather Could Trouble Australia
Aqib Ilyas acknowledged Australia’s strong “mindset” and their history of excelling in major tournaments but stressed the need to approach this match like any other. He emphasized that his team should not be intimidated by the prominent names on the Australian roster.
“Once you step onto the field, there are no big names; no one is bigger than you out there,” Ilyas stated. “It’s just another game for us, and we don’t see our opponents as extraordinary.”
Ilyas emphasized that Oman must concentrate on their own game and not be daunted by their opponents.
Oman has previously played a low-scoring match at Kensington Oval against Namibia, narrowly losing in a Super Over. Ilyas believes that this experience on the slow, turning pitch will give them an edge against Australia.
He noted that Australia’s current lineup lacks players with strong techniques against spin, stating, “They aim for big hits, everyone tries to go for sixes, but every day is different. If the pitch remains the same, it could pose problems for them.”
The match on June 6 will be the first-ever meeting between Oman and Australia. Australia’s Ashton Agar remarked that the increased availability of footage of Associate teams could aid Australia in preparing for the uncertainties of facing Oman.
