Oman has appointed Aqib Ilyas as their new captain for the upcoming T20 World Cup in June. Ilyas takes over from Zeeshan Maqsood, who had led the team since 2016.
The squad for the tournament has also been announced, with Shoaib Khan being the only new addition from the side that participated in the ACC Premier Cup 2024 in April. Opening batter Jatinder Singh and legspinner Samay Shrivastav have been named as reserves.
Kashyap Prajapati and Naseem Khushi are expected to open the batting, with Ilyas and Maqsood following at No. 3 and 4 respectively. Wicketkeeper Pratik Athavale and Ayaan Khan will provide middle-order support.
Bilal Khan, known for his lethal yorkers, will lead the bowling attack, which also includes right-arm pacers Kaleemullah and Fayyaz Butt, and left-arm fingerspinner Shakeel Ahmad. Ilyas and Maqsood can also contribute with the ball.
Speaking about his appointment, Ilyas said, “I am truly honored to be entrusted with the captaincy. 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.”
Oman will be hoping to improve on their performance in the 2022 T20 World Cup, where they failed to qualify for the group stage. They are placed in Group B for the upcoming edition, alongside Australia, England, Namibia, and Scotland. Their campaign begins against Namibia on June 2 in Barbados.
