Oman Announce T20 World Cup Squad: Aqib Ilyas Takes Over Captaincy Reins

Oman Cricket unveiled their 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, starting on June 1st, with a noteworthy change in leadership. Aqib Ilyas, the batting all-rounder, has been named the new captain, replacing Zeeshan Maqsood who had held the position since 2016.

Ilyas Takes the Helm: A Leader with Experience

The 36-year-old Ilyas brings experience to the captaincy role. He served as deputy to Sultan Ahmed during Oman’s T20 World Cup debut in 2016 and captained the side during the 2021 edition co-hosted by UAE. 

“I am truly honored to be entrusted with the captaincy,” Ilyas said, expressing his gratitude for the responsibility. “It’s a huge responsibility, and I aim to lead the team to many victories. We are preparing rigorously for the World Cup, and the recent ACC Premier Cup has provided us with invaluable preparation,” he added.

Core Retained, Spin Gets a Boost: Continuity and Fresh Faces

The Oman squad boasts a blend of experience and youthful promise. The core group that reached the final of the last ACC Premier Cup remains largely intact, with eight players from the 2021 T20 World Cup squad continuing their journey.

Bowling spearhead Bilal Khan, renowned for his lethal yorkers, retains his leadership of the bowling attack. He’ll be supported by the experienced spin trio of Kaleemullah, Fayyaz Butt, and the newcomer Shakeel Ahmad, a left-arm orthodox bowler. Shakeel joins Aqib Ilyas and Zeeshan Maqsood, bolstering Oman’s spin options.

A Look at the Batting Order: Openers Up for Grabs

The batting order appears to be taking shape, with Kashyap Prajapati and Naseem Khushi expected to bat at number three and four, respectively. Wicket-keeper batsman Pratik Athavale and Ayaan Khan are likely to slot in lower down the order. Notably, there’s no place for openers Jatinder Singh and Samay Shrivastav in the final squad.

With a new captain at the helm and a determined squad, Oman is geared up for a challenging yet exciting T20 World Cup campaign. Their blend of experience and promising youngsters, coupled with the recent ACC Premier Cup experience, positions them well to make a mark on the global stage. Whether they can translate their potential into victories remains to be seen, but Oman’s fighting spirit and strategic leadership under Aqib Ilyas promise to make them a team to watch.

Oman Squad for T20 World Cup 2024: Aqib Ilyas (c), Zeeshan Maqsood, Kashyap Prajapati, Pratik Athavale (wk), Ayaan Khan, Shoaib Khan, Mohammad Nadeem, Naseem Khushi (wk), Mehran Khan, Bilal Khan, Rafiullah, Kaleemullah, Fayyaz Butt, Shakeel Ahmad. 

Reserves: Jatinder Singh, Samay Shrivastava, Sufyan Mehmood and Jay Odedra.

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