Muscat – Oman made a winning start to their home campaign in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2, defeating Canada by 41 runs in the opening match at Al Amerat Cricket Ground on Friday.

After being bowled out for 263 in 49.1 overs, Oman dismissed Canada for 222 in 48 overs, securing a crucial victory as the race for qualification for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup continued to intensify.

Hassnain Ul Wahab, who struck an impressive 93 off 77 balls including five fours and five sixes, was Oman’s batting mainstay. His innings gave the hosts a strong platform, while Jatinder Singh made 34 off 30 deliveries and Mujibur Ali added 39 from 73 balls.

Zikria Islam also made a useful late contribution, scoring 24 off 18 deliveries. Captain Vinayak Shukla scored 20, while Shakeel Ahmed added 18.

Canada’s bowlers kept the pressure on, with Harsh Thaker claiming four wickets and Ajayveer Hundal taking three. However, Oman’s total proved sufficient as its bowlers maintained their discipline, with Hassnain Ali Shah taking four wickets and Shakeel Ahmad claiming three to secure the victory.

Oman head coach Sulakshan Kulkarni said the team’s recent preparation helped the players approach the match with confidence and readiness.

“The preparation has gone very well, and I believe the recent matches against Kerala and Mumbai helped us significantly ahead of the League 2 series,” Kulkarni said.

“We also had good training sessions over the last few days. Playing at home is a great advantage for us, as it helps the players settle into the team environment and prepare under familiar conditions.”

Kulkarni also highlighted the balance of the squad, pointing to the combination of spin and pace bowling, batting depth and the presence of several all-rounders.

“We have a well-balanced side, with a good mix of spinners, fast bowlers and batting options. We also have several all-rounders, which gives us an important advantage and provides flexibility in different match situations,” he added.

Oman’s preparations included a triangular series involving Mumbai and Kerala, in which the team recorded two victories from four matches. The games offered valuable competitive exposure before the start of the League 2 home leg.

Oman captain Vinayak Shukla also expressed satisfaction with the squad’s preparations, saying the players had shown encouraging form in the build-up to the competition. “I think our preparation has been very good. The matches against the Indian teams provided us with valuable practice, and the boys have been shaping up well over the last few games,” Shukla said.

“Everyone is putting in their best effort as we approach the League 2 matches. That preparation has helped the team build confidence and get ready for the challenge ahead.”

The captain’s comments reflected Oman’s focus on carrying their recent form into the home series, where every result could prove important in the standings.

Oman’s League 2 campaign will continue with a second meeting against Canada on October 15, while their matches against Nepal are scheduled for October 13 and 19. Canada and Nepal will meet on October 11 and 17.