Sikandar Raza Returns! Zimbabwe vs Oman Squads & Live Warm-Up Updates
While the world focuses on the giants, a fascinating tactical battle is unfolding at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. Today, Zimbabwe takes on Oman in Match 11 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 warm-ups.
But this is no ordinary practice match.
In a twist of fate (or scheduling irony), these two teams are in the same group (Group B) and are scheduled to play their official tournament opener against each other on February 9. This makes today’s clash a high-stakes game of poker. Do they show their full hand and go for a morale-boosting win, or do they hide their best strategies for the match that actually counts in four days?
With both teams coming off confident victories in their previous warm-ups, this encounter promises to be a psychological thriller as much as a cricketing contest.
Live Match Details
- Match: Zimbabwe vs Oman (ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Warm-up)
- Date: 5 February 2026
- Time: 11:00 AM Local Time
- Venue: Sinhalese Sports Club / Colombo Cricket Club Ground, Colombo
Squads: The Armies Assembled
Both nations have named strong squads for the marquee event. Zimbabwe welcomes back veterans, while Oman relies on a blend of experienced associate stars.
Zimbabwe Squad (The Chevrons)
| Role | Players |
| Captain | Sikandar Raza |
| Batters | Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Brendan Taylor, Tony Munyonga |
| All-Rounders | Ryan Burl, Dion Myers, Bradley Evans, Wessly Madhevere |
| Bowlers | Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Graeme Cremer, Wellington Masakadza, Tinotenda Maposa |
| Wicket-Keepers | Clive Madande |
Key Note: The return of Brendan Taylor and Graeme Cremer adds immense experience to a side led by the dynamic Sikandar Raza.
Oman Squad (The Red Brigade)
| Role | Players |
| Captain | Jatinder Singh |
| Batters | Vinayak Shukla, Hammad Mirza, Ashish Odedara, Shoaib Khan |
| All-Rounders | Aamir Kaleem, Mohammad Nadeem, Wasim Ali, Karan Sonavale |
| Bowlers | Bilal Khan, Fayyaz Butt, Kaleemullah, Shakeel Ahmad, Jay Odedra |
| Wicket-Keepers | Naseem Khushi |
Form Guide: Momentum is High
Both teams are entering this match with “W”s next to their names from the previous round of warm-ups on February 3.
Zimbabwe’s Last Outing:
- Opponent: Netherlands
- Result: Won by 29 Runs.
- Star Performer: Ryan Burl (50 off 31 balls) and Richard Ngarava (3 wickets).
- Takeaway: Zimbabwe’s bowling attack successfully defended 178, proving their pace battery is firing.
Oman’s Last Outing:
- Opponent: Sri Lanka A
- Result: Won by 5 wickets.
- Star Performer: Aamir Kaleem (80 runs off 47 balls).
- Takeaway: Chasing down a target against a spin-heavy Sri Lankan side on their home turf is a massive confidence booster for Oman.
Key Battles to Watch
If the captains decide to play their best XIs, these are the matchups that will define the game:
| Battle | The Stat / Context |
| Sikandar Raza vs Aamir Kaleem | Two premier all-rounders. Kaleem is fresh off an 80-run knock; Raza is the heart of Zimbabwe. |
| Blessing Muzarabani vs Jatinder Singh | Muzarabani’s steep bounce vs Jatinder’s aggressive opening play. |
| Graeme Cremer vs Spin Conditions | The veteran leg-spinner returns to favorable sub-continent tracks. Can Oman read his variations? |
The “Spy Games” Suspense
The biggest question hovering over this match is intensity.
Since they play again on Feb 9 for World Cup points, expect some “dummy” moves.
- Zimbabwe might rest Sikandar Raza from bowling duties to hide his variations.
- Oman might shuffle their batting order to keep Zimbabwe’s analysts guessing.
- Don’t be surprised if key bowlers bowl with shorter run-ups or hold back their slower balls.
Prediction:
Zimbabwe starts as favorites due to their Full Member status and the lethal pace of Muzarabani and Ngarava. However, Oman’s comfort in Asian conditions (and their recent win over SL ‘A’) makes them dangerous underdogs. Expect a close finish, but perhaps not the full tactical playbook from either side.
