Oman Captain Aqib Ilyas Warns Australia of Potential Upset

In their first match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, Oman nearly clinched victory. The game against Namibia extended into a Super Over, where Aqib Ilyas's team ultimately faced defeat.

Tomorrow, at 6:30 AM Bangladesh time, Oman will take on the highly favored Australia at Kensington Oval in Barbados. Aqib Ilyas is optimistic about his team's chances against the Aussies.

Papua New Guinea recently unsettled the West Indies on a slow pitch in Guyana, suggesting that Oman could pose a similar challenge to Australia. Ilyas believes that an upset could be on the cards in the World Cup and has elaborated on his reasoning.

Aqib Ilyas, born in Pakistan and raised in Muscat, stated, "Australia used to have batters with good technique, such as Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. However, I don't think they have such players now. They only aim for big sixes."

"But every day isn't the same. If we encounter the kind of pitch we had against Namibia, it could create problems for the Aussies."

"As seen in the match between West Indies and Papua New Guinea, even with some of the world's best hitters, the West Indies struggled to achieve their target."

"On a slow wicket, if we have quality spinners, we just need to bowl in the right areas with determination. The ball doesn't recognize the stature of the batter. If it turns a bit or stays low, the batter will face difficulties."

In the match against Namibia, although Aqib Ilyas didn't score any runs, he delivered an impressive performance with the ball, conceding only 17 runs in 4 overs and taking 1 wicket. He bowled 15 dot balls and even delivered a maiden over.