The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 moves to Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club on Monday, February 9, as Zimbabwe takes on Oman in the 8th match of Group B at 3:00 PM local time (9:30 AM GMT).
This historic encounter marks the first-ever T20 International meeting between these two nations, adding extra intrigue to the clash. Zimbabwe, led by the experienced all-rounder Sikandar Raza, brings a balanced squad featuring quality players like Blessing Muzarabani and Brian Bennett as they aim to make a strong start to their campaign.
Oman, under captain Jatinder Singh’s leadership, arrived with their own ambitions of causing an upset, bolstered by the all-round capabilities of Mohammad Nadeem and the batting prowess of Wasim Ali. Both teams will be eager to register their first points in what promises to be a closely contested Group B battle at the intimate 10,000-capacity venue.
ZIM vs OMA T20 WC 2026 – Match Details
| Match Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | Zimbabwe vs Oman, 8th Match, Group B |
| Tournament | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Date | Monday, February 9, 2026 |
| Time | 3:00 PM LOCAL / 9:30 AM GMT |
| Venue | Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Capacity | 10,000 |
| Ends | Tennis Courts End, South End |
Betting Odds – Zimbabwe vs Oman
| Betting Site | Zimbabwe Win | Oman Win | Zimbabwe Toss | Oman Toss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1xbet | 1.45 | 2.85 | 1.90 | 1.90 |
| 10CRIC | 1.47 | 2.80 | 1.91 | 1.91 |
| Betway | 1.46 | 2.82 | 1.90 | 1.90 |
| Bet365 | 1.48 | 2.78 | 1.91 | 1.91 |
Zimbabwe enters as the favorites with odds ranging from 1.45 to 1.48, reflecting their stronger recent form and higher-ranked squad. Oman’s odds between 2.78 and 2.85 suggest they’re underdogs but capable of causing an upset in this historic first meeting.
Weather Forecast – Colombo
| Aspect | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 30°C |
| Weather | Cloudy |
| Precipitation | 10% |
| Humidity | 58% |
| Wind | 18 km/h |
Warm and cloudy conditions are expected in Colombo with 30°C temperature and moderate 58% humidity. There’s a slight 10% chance of precipitation, though play should proceed uninterrupted. The 18 km/h wind may assist swing bowlers during the powerplay.
Pitch Report & Venue Analysis
The Sinhalese Sports Club pitch in Colombo presents a challenging surface for batsmen, favoring bowlers considerably. With an average first innings score of just 121 runs, teams have struggled to post substantial totals at this venue.
The pitch offers assistance to both pace and spin bowlers, with the ball gripping and turning as matches progress. The cloudy conditions and higher humidity may aid swing bowling early on.
| Pitch Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Surface Type | Bowler-friendly, low-scoring venue |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 121 runs |
| Average 2nd Innings Score | 110 runs |
| Highest Total | 176/3 by Canada vs Ireland |
| Lowest Total | 100 all out by Bangladesh Women vs Sri Lanka Women |
| Highest Successful Chase | 148/7 by Pakistan vs Netherlands |
Venue Statistics – Sinhalese Sports Club T20 Record
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Total T20 Matches | 10 |
| Batting First Wins | 3 |
| Bowling First Wins | 6 |
| Average 1st Innings | 121 |
| Average 2nd Innings | 110 |
| Toss Impact | Teams chasing win 60% of matches |
The statistics strongly favor teams bowling first, with 6 of 10 matches won by the chasing side. The 11-run difference between the average first- and second-innings scores indicates the difficulty of batting second as the pitch deteriorates.
Head-to-Head Record – Zimbabwe vs Oman (T20Is)
First-Ever Meeting
This match represents the first T20 International encounter between Zimbabwe and Oman, making it a historic occasion for both nations. With no previous head-to-head data available, both teams enter on equal footing, though Zimbabwe’s higher ICC ranking and greater experience at the World Cup level give them a psychological edge.
Team Squads
Zimbabwe Squad: Tashinga Musekiwa, Dion Myers, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Clive Madande (wk), Brendan Taylor (wk), Sikandar Raza (c), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Tinotenda Maposa, Brad Evans, Tony Munyonga, Graeme Cremer, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava.
Oman Squad: Jatinder Singh (c), Ashish Odedara, Hammad Mirza (wk), Vinayak Shukla (wk), Karan Sonavale, Wasim Ali, Aamir Kaleem, Jay Odedra, Mohammad Nadeem, Jiten Ramanandi, Shafiq Jan, Nadeem Khan, Shah Faisal, Shakeel Ahmed, Sufyan Mehmood.
Key Players To Watch For ZIM vs OMA T20 WC 2026 Match
| Player | Stats & Key Strengths |
|---|---|
| Sikandar Raza (ZIM) | Captain and star all-rounder; explosive middle-order batsman with power-hitting ability; handy off-spinner; vast T20 experience, including IPL |
| Blessing Muzarabani (ZIM) | Experienced pace spearhead; tall fast bowler with bounce and accuracy; effective with new ball and at death; Zimbabwe’s premier wicket-taker |
| Brian Bennett (ZIM) | Talented batting all-rounder; aggressive stroke-player in middle order; useful off-spin option; emerging star for Zimbabwe |
| Jatinder Singh (OMAN) | Captain and opening batsman; aggressive powerplay hitter; experienced campaigner; Oman’s key run-scorer and tactical leader |
| Mohammad Nadeem (OMAN) | Quality all-rounder; handy middle-order bat; useful medium-pace bowler; provides balance to Oman’s lineup with dual skills |
| Wasim Ali (OMAN) | Explosive batting all-rounder; powerful striker in middle order; can bowl part-time spin; Oman’s match-winner on his day |
Suggested Reads:
Live Streaming & TV Broadcast Details
- India: Star Sports Network, Disney+ Hotstar
- United Kingdom: Sky Sports Cricket
- United States: Willow TV
- Australia: Fox Sports, Kayo Sports
- Pakistan: PTV Sports, ARY Digital
- Sri Lanka: Dialog TV, ThePapare.com
- Global Streaming: ICC.tv (select regions)
