Zimbabwe Chooses to Bowl, Muzarabani Returns Against Oman

In an exciting opening match of the T20 World Cup, Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza opted to bowl first against Oman. The match took place at the SSC in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where both teams arrived early to acclimatize to the playing conditions.

Zimbabwe’s Squad Highlights

Zimbabwe’s lineup features the return of Blessing Muzarabani, who had been absent during the tri-series in Pakistan in November. This resurgence adds depth to their bowling attack. Additionally, the team welcomes Graeme Cremer back after a record gap of nearly two years between T20 International appearances.

Previously, Zimbabwe strained to qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup after having reached the Super 12s in the 2022 edition. In the previous qualifiers, they managed to qualify alongside Namibia, with Brian Bennett leading as the tournament’s top run-scorer. Brad Evans and Richard Ngarava also shined as prominent wicket-takers.

Oman’s Experienced Squad

Oman boasts an interesting blend of experience and youth. Aamir Kaleem, at 44, stands as the oldest participant in the tournament. He stepped in for the injured Hasnain Shah shortly after the tournament roster was finalized. Oman has qualified for this prestigious competition three times: in 2016, 2021, and now in 2024, alongside their regional counterparts, Nepal and the UAE.

• Zimbabwe Squad:
  • Brian Bennett
  • Tadiwanashe Marumani
  • Dion Myers
  • Brendan Taylor (wk)
  • Sikandar Raza (capt)
  • Ryan Burl
  • Tashinga Musekiwa
  • Brad Evans
  • Wellington Masakadza
  • Richard Ngarava
  • Blessing Muzarabani
• Oman Squad:
  • Jatinder Singh (capt)
  • Aamir Kaleem
  • Hammad Mirza
  • Wasim Ali
  • Karan Sonavale
  • Jiten Ramanandi
  • Vinayak Shukla (wk)
  • Sufyan Mehmood
  • Nadeem Khan
  • Shah Faisal
  • Shakeel Ahmad

The stage is set for a thrilling match as Zimbabwe looks to leverage its strong bowling and seasoned players against Oman’s mix of youth and experience. Fans of both teams are eager to see which squad will emerge victorious in this highly anticipated encounter.