MUSCAT: On April 8, Oman’s U19 cricket team set off for Nepal, poised to challenge some of Asia's leading youth teams in the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025. This crucial tournament, taking place from April 13 to 19 in Kathmandu, will decide the sole Asian representative for the ICC U19 World Cup 2026.
Oman will kick off their tournament journey against Afghanistan on April 13 at the Mulpani International Cricket Ground.
The competition will feature hosts Nepal, along with the UAE, Hong Kong, Afghanistan, and Oman, with matches scheduled to commence at 9:30 AM local time on both the Upper and Lower Mulpani grounds.
Under the leadership of Rahil Habibulla, the squad includes six newcomers: Rishab Gupta, Ojjus Pachisia, Ayush Karthyic, Kavish Shah, Vignesh Karthikeyan, and Aryan Joshi, as the team aims to blend youthful talent with seasoned experience.
Oman secured their spot in the Asia Qualifier by winning Division 2 last year, but head coach Damith Warusavithana acknowledges the challenges that lie ahead. Prior to their departure, he remarked, “We enter as underdogs, with Afghanistan and Nepal being the favorites. However, we aim to compete fiercely and give our utmost effort to rise to the occasion.”
The head coach emphasized that the team has engaged in extensive preparation, including over a dozen competitive matches and scenario-based training sessions to equip players for high-pressure situations. “The preparation leading up to the tournament has been thorough. We had a pool of 30 talented players, from which we selected a squad of 14,” he stated.
The training emphasized various scenarios that players were trained to implement at different points during matches.
Warusavithana commended the team's dedication during a challenging time. "The commitment shown by the group was impressive. Their preparation took place during the February-March period, coinciding with exams, yet the players managed to balance their cricket and academic responsibilities remarkably well, demonstrating professionalism."
Anticipating the unfamiliar conditions in Nepal, the Oman team arrived early to adjust. "We have focused on enhancing the players' physical, mental, and skill levels, and arriving a few days in advance will help us adapt to the pitch conditions," Warusavithana noted.
"Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to the Oman Cricket Board and our support staff for their relentless efforts, which have allowed us to prepare effectively for this crucial tournament."
Earlier last week, Tanzania secured its spot as the 12th team in the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026, set to take place in Zimbabwe and Namibia, after winning the Africa Qualifier. Tanzania will join 15 other teams in the competition.
Ten teams have automatically qualified for the tournament as the highest-ranked Full Member nations from the previous event in 2024. These teams include Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies. The Full Member hosts of the 2026 edition, Zimbabwe, have also gained automatic entry.
Tanzania has claimed one of the five spots available through regional qualification pathways, with one team from each region earning a place in the tournament.
Africa, Asia, Europe, and the East Asia-Pacific regions each follow a two-step qualification process. The Division 2 Qualifiers were held in 2024 to identify the teams that will advance to the second and final stage, the Regional Qualifiers, scheduled for 2025. The team that emerges victorious from each Regional Qualifier in 2025 will earn a spot in the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026. In the Americas region, the qualification process consists solely of a Regional Qualifier, with only the winning nation securing a place in the World Cup.
Oman squad: Rahil Habibulla (captain), Prathiesh HR (vice-captain), Nitish Nadendla, Saumya Sampat, Jeet Shah, Varshieth Dinesh, Siddharth Shankar, Omindu Medagoda, Rishab Gupta, Ojjus Pachisia, Ayush Karthyic, Kavish Shah, Vignesh Karthikeyan, Aryan Joshi.
Oman’s schedule (all matches at 9:30 AM local time): April 13 – vs Afghanistan, Upper Mulpani Ground; April 14 – vs Nepal, Upper Mulpani Ground; April 17 – vs UAE, Lower Mulpani Ground; April 18 – vs Hong Kong, Upper Mulpani Ground.
