Sunday 19 / April / 2026
MUSCAT: Buoyed by their impressive display in the Namibia leg of the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 recently, Oman will look to carry that momentum into the upcoming Nepal tri-series, starting on April 25.
Oman currently sit third in the eight-team table with 29 points from 24 games, with the USA leading the standings (36 pts from 24 games) followed by Scotland (34 from 28), underlining the importance of every outing in the race for a top-four finish and a place in the ICC 2027 ODI World Cup Qualifiers.
With conditions in Nepal expected to favour spin and adaptability, the team management has opted for a more versatile combination, making three changes to the squad that featured in Namibia. The emphasis is clearly on strengthening all-round depth.
Uncapped left-arm orthodox spinner Nadeem Khan has been drafted in after his performances in domestic circuit, while right arm off-spinner Siddharth Bukkapatnam and middle-order batter Hashil Dafadar have been recalled into the squad to add balance and solidity.
“It is a well-balanced squad and I am fortunate to have plenty of all-rounders in my 15,” head coach Sulakshan Kulkarni said, highlighting the approach tailored for subcontinental conditions.
Kulkarni also stressed the importance of adaptability following the Namibia tour, noting that the side is “learning to adapt quickly and take responsibility in key moments,” a trait that will be crucial in the Nepal leg.
The trio replace experienced names Mohammed Nadeem, Karan Sonavale and Samay Shrivastava, as Oman fine-tune their resources for the conditions.
Led by captain Jatinder Singh with Vinayak Shukla as vice-captain, the squad departed for Nepal capital Kathmandu on Sunday. Oman will play two practice matches against Nepal A on April 22 and 24 as part of their preparations.
Oman begin their campaign on April 27 against the UAE in Kirtipur followed by a game against hosts Nepal on April 29. Kulkarni’s men then meet the UAE again on May 3 before completing their campaign against the hosts on May 5. Both the UAE and Nepal are currently at the bottom of the table with 10 and 12 points respectively from 20 outings.
With crucial points on offer and the qualification race tightening, Oman will aim to consolidate their position in the standings and sustain their upward trajectory.
Squad: Jatinder Singh (captain), Vinayak Shukla (vice-captain), Ashish Odedra, Pruthvi Machhi, Hammad Mirza, Mujibur Ali, Jiten Ramanandi, Shakeel Ahmad, Shah Faisal, Hassnain Ali Shah, Muhammed Imran, Wasim Ali, Hashil Dafadar, Siddharth Bukkapatnam, Nadeem Khan.
Support staff: Sulakshan Kulkarni (Head Coach), Zeeshan Siddiqui (Manager), Ashim Narang (Assistant Coach), Shiva Manhas (Strength & Conditioning), Ashish Awasthi (Physiotherapist), Shyam Iyer (Performance Analyst), Bashir Ahmad (Masseur).
Oman fixtures (all matches begin at 7.45am, Oman time): April 27: vs UAE; April 29: vs Nepal; May 3: vs UAE; May 5: vs Nepal.
