MUSCAT: A new chapter in the country’s cricket journey begins next month as an all-Omani squad competes in the Asian Games Men’s Qualifier in Singapore under the captaincy of Sufyan Mehmood.

The 14-member side, made up entirely of homegrown talent, marks a milestone in Oman cricket’s development as the ambitious squad prepares for its maiden appearance on the continental stage. The T20I qualifiers, featuring 13 nations, will be held from May 31 to June 9.

Oman begin their Group B campaign against Maldives on June 1 before facing hosts Singapore on June 3.

Under the tournament format, the top two teams from each of the four groups will advance to the quarter-finals, with the four winners progressing to the semi-finals and securing qualification for the Asian Games.

Apart from Oman, Maldives and Singapore in Group B, the other teams competing for four qualification spots at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, are Nepal, Thailand and Indonesia (Group A); Hong Kong, Bahrain and South Korea (Group C); and Malaysia, Qatar, China and Uzbekistan (Group D).

The top four teams from the qualifiers will join defending champions India, along with Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and hosts Japan at the Asian Games, scheduled from September 17 to October 3.

With vice-captain Muzaffar Shiralkar as his deputy, Sufyan will lead a youthful squad featuring Mohammed Al Balushi, Shoaib Al Balushi, Zubair Al Balushi, Abdul Jalil, Issa Al Balushi, Samir Yousuf, Naveed Al Balushi, Ahmed Al Zadjali, Wasim Al Balushi, Faris Al Balushi, Rashad Al Balushi and Munthir Al Balushi.

The team, coached by former Oman skipper Sultan Ahmed, will depart in the final week of May and arrive early in Singapore to acclimatise to conditions and play preparatory matches ahead of the tournament.

Year-long preparations

With the aim of building a competitive side for the Asian Games, Oman Cricket (OC) launched the all-Omani team project in March 2025.

The initiative aims to develop a fully Omani squad as cricket strengthens its presence in multi-sport events such as the Asian Games and Olympics.

The squad has already gained valuable exposure through a bilateral series against Bahrain last year, where Oman suffered a narrow 1-2 defeat.

To further strengthen the programme, OC has introduced player contracts to support the squad’s semi-professional development while ensuring access to national-team-level coaching, fitness and preparation facilities.

The entire programme and tour are being funded directly by Oman Cricket, underlining its long-term commitment to nurturing domestic talent.

Captain Mehmood highlighted the significance of the opportunity.

“It is great to lead an all-Omani team as we bid to make history by qualifying for the Asian Games. It would be a proud moment for Oman cricket if we qualify. It’s a huge platform for the players, especially with many of them set to make their T20 international debut. Hopefully, we can achieve the desired results, and I can use my experience to help the team qualify,” he said.

Team manager Said Haider Al Balushi also underlined the importance of the project.

“The Omani cricket team has been prepared over the course of a full year through a structured plan and intensive efforts by both the coaching staff and players in preparation for the Asian Games qualification tournament. The team proudly features a group of ambitious Omani youth, and we wish them every success on the international stage,” he said.

He added that the initiative aligns with Oman Vision 2040 and reflects the country’s commitment to empowering youth through sport.

“It is our honour to represent our beloved nation in regional and international competitions, carrying the flag of Oman with pride and dedication,” he added.

The support staff also includes assistant coach Parviz Al Balushi and physiotherapist Saravanan.

Oman squad: Sufyan Mehmood (captain), Muzaffar Shiralkar (vice-captain), Mohammed Al Balushi, Shoaib Al Balushi, Zubair Al Balushi, Abdul Jalil, Issa Al Balushi, Samir Yousuf, Naveed Al Balushi, Ahmed Al Zadjali, Wasim Al Balushi, Faris Al Balushi, Rashad Al Balushi, Munthir Al Balushi.

Support staff: Coach Sultan Ahmed, assistant coach Parviz Al Balushi, manager Said Haider Al Balushi, physiotherapist Saravanan.