Under new
captain Aqib Ilyas, Oman take on Namibia in a battle of equals
Playing in their third consecutive T20 World Cup,
Namibia will be looking to build on impressive previous showings. In 2021, they
had surprised many by qualifying for Super 12s - at the expense of Ireland and
Netherlands - and in 2022 they beat Sri Lanka in the first round, but fell
short of progressing.
They made it to T20 World Cup 2024 by dominating the
Africa qualifier, winning all six of their games. With England and Australia
also in their group, they will know that their best shot at the Super 8s
involves beating Oman and Scotland and then pulling off an upset.
But Oman, their first opponents, could offer tough
competition. When the two teams faced off in a five-match T20I series in April,
Oman ran Namibia close, with Namibia eventually sealing a 3-2 win.
Oman, also making their third T20 World Cup
appearance, come into the tournament with momentum on their side. They reached
the ACC Premier Cup final, winning five games on the trot, although they lost
to UAE in the final. They have a new captain for this World Cup, with Aqib
Ilyas replacing the experienced Zeeshan Maqsood in the role.
Form
guide
Namibia
WWLLW (last five T20Is, most recent first)
Oman
LWWWW
In
the spotlight - David Wiese and Aqib Ilyas
David
Wiese, one of the biggest reasons behind Namibia's
impressive campaign in 2021, has since become a T20 globetrotter, playing in
several franchise leagues including the IPL, the Hundred and the PSL. He has
also played the CPL and MLC, giving him a feel of the conditions on offer by
T20 World Cup's two hosts. Namibia would hope that the experience he has gained
over the last few years will set him up for a good campaign, as he is key to
their plans with bat and ball.
Aqib
Ilyas, apart from being a top-order batter, is also a
more-than-handy spinner. He was the leading wicket-taker in the ACC Premier Cup
with 12 scalps from five matches at an economy of 6.22. In the series decider
against Namibia, he picked up 2 for 21 from three overs and then struck a
29-ball 51 in an unsuccessful chase of 213. Namibia will be wary of the threat
he poses, but how he deals with the added responsibility of leading the team
will have to be seen.
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