Oman’s preparations for the forthcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 received a boost on Wednesday after Oman Cricket confirmed that they would host World Cup-bound Sri Lanka team in Muscat in October. The World Cup, which will be held in Oman and the UAE, will begin on October 17.

Both Oman and Sri Lanka are clubbed in two different groups in the first round of the T20 World Cup. The two teams will play the warm-up games on October 7 and 9 at the Oman Cricket Academy Ground.

Sri Lanka will be hoping to acclimatise to the weather conditions in the region as they play their Group One first round games in the UAE. The other teams in Sri Lanka’s pool are Ireland, The Netherlands and Namibia.

“Sri Lanka will be playing two T20I matches against Oman during the brief tour. We are extremely pleased that they decided to come to Oman on their way to the UAE,” said Oman coach and former Sri Lankan great Duleep Mendis.

“We are happy that Oman will be getting an opportunity to play a full-strength Sri Lanka squad. The two matches will help both the teams. For us, it will be good to play against a seasoned side ahead of the World Cup,” he added.

Oman is grouped with Bangladesh, Scotland and Papua New Guinea in Group B. 

Sri Lanka is coached by South African Mickey Arthur since December 2019 and recently beat India 3-1 in a four-match T20I series at home.