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The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group B match is being played against Oman in Colombo. Both the teams are currently trying to get their first points in the group after a tough start. Ireland lost to Australia and Sri Lanka in their previous matches and finished bottom of Group B. Oman also suffered a defeat in their opening match. Both the teams are in dire need of a win. A defeat here makes it almost impossible to qualify.
Ireland has a mix of experienced internationals and emerging T20 players. Paul Stirling leads the batting. He is supported by Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker. They have seam options like Josh Little and Mark Adair in the bowling lineup. Ireland has a long history in World Cups and they know how to handle pressure in major events. They have been here before. They know what is required.
Oman brings a disciplined and tactically aware unit to this match. They are being led by Jatinder Singh. Oman’s team includes experienced T20 performers like Aamir Kaleem and Vinayak Shukla and Mohammad Nadeem. They have bowlers like Sufyan Mahmood who can make an impact in the middle overs. Oman has participated in many T20 World Cups before and are comfortable in subcontinental conditions. They know how to bowl in Sri Lanka. They also know how to bat there.
This match is important for both the teams as they look to strengthen their hopes of qualifying for the competitive Group B including Australia, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe and improve their net run rates. Every run counts now. Net run rate could decide who advances.
| Format | Matches | IRE Won | OMA Won | Tied | NR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20Is | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| No. | Ireland Player | Role | Oman Player | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul Stirling (c) | Batting allrounder | Jatinder Singh (c) | Batter |
| 2 | Mark Adair | Bowling allrounder | Aamir Kaleem | Middle-order batter |
| 3 | Ross Adair | Top-order batter | Hammad Mirza | Wicketkeeper batter |
| 4 | Ben Calitz | Middle-order batter | Jay Odedra | Bowling allrounder |
| 5 | Curtis Campher | Allrounder | Mohammad Nadeem | Allrounder |
| 6 | Gareth Delany | Batting allrounder | Nadeem Khan | Allrounder |
| 7 | George Dockrell | Allrounder | Ashish Odedara | Middle-order batter |
| 8 | Matthew Humphreys | Bowler | Jiten Ramanandi | Bowler |
| 9 | Josh Little | Bowler | Shafiq Jan | Bowler |
| 10 | Barry McCarthy | Bowler | Shah Faisal | Bowler |
| 11 | Harry Tector | Middle-order batter | Shakeel Ahmed | Bowler |
| 12 | Tim Tector | Top-order batter | Vinayak Shukla | Wicketkeeper batter |
| 13 | Lorcan Tucker | Wicketkeeper batter | Karan Sonavale | Batting allrounder |
| 14 | Ben White | Bowler | Sufyan Mehmood | Bowler |
| 15 | Craig Young | Bowler | Wasim Ali | Batting allrounder |
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| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Stadium | Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo |
| Pitch Nature | Slightly slow surface favors spin and controlled bowling |
| Batting Support | Steady scoring possible, but tough early overs |
| New Ball Behaviour | Seamers can extract grip early before slowing |
| Spin Factor | Spinners often control middle overs |
| Match Pattern | Balanced with slight edge to bowlers restricting runs |
| Average Score Range | Around 150–170 |
| Toss Strategy | Winning toss might prefer to bat first and put runs on board |
Ireland have an experienced batting core in the form of Paul Stirling and Harry Tector who have played many international matches. They have a variety of bowling options, including left-arm seam and spin options that provide tactical flexibility. They have a history of competing well in ICC tournaments which is a confidence booster.
Their concern is that they have been struggling for form early in this World Cup and are also coming off two defeats. They need significant contributions from the middle-order to put pressure on the opposition.
Key players include Paul Stirling who is the captain and a senior opener with power and experience at this level. Harry Tector is their middle-order anchor who builds the innings in key situations. Josh Little is a wicket-taking fast bowling option. Mark Adair provides all-round depth with seam bowling and lower-order hitting.
Oman have a disciplined bowling attack that is capable of controlling the run flow which restricts the opposition teams. They have several players with T20 experience in subcontinental conditions where they play frequently. They are led by captain Jatinder Singh who makes good decisions.
Their concern is batting depth against a strong bowling lineup like Ireland. They need big partnerships in the middle overs to challenge experienced teams and post defendable totals.
The key players to keep an eye on are Jatinder Singh who captains and bats at the top of the order. Vinayak Shukla is an aggressive batsman who can pick up the pace quickly when needed. Sufiyan Mehmood is their strike bowler in the middle overs who takes important wickets. Mohammad Nadeem provides all-round ability which adds balance to the team.
Considering the Colombo surface and the potential technical challenges of batting first, the captain may choose to bat first and take advantage by setting a target, especially when the pitch slows down in the second half of the innings. Batting first puts scoreboard pressure on the chasing team. Batting later on the pitch becomes difficult.
| Team | Winning Chance (%) | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 60% | More experience and depth in batting lineup |
| Oman | 40% | Disciplined bowling and familiarity with conditions |
Cricbites Prediction: Ireland start as slight favourites due to their batting experience and historical edge, but Oman’s structured approach means they can pose a strong challenge if their batsmen click.
This Group B match between Ireland and Oman promises to be a tactical cricket match in which spin will play a key role and controlled bowling spells will shape the contest. Ireland will be keen to bounce back from their opening defeat. They will look to build on their form with a disciplined bowling effort and impressive batting from their top-order leaders. Oman will need consistent partnerships and tight bowling to stay competitive and create an upset.
Expect some variation in bowling and strategic use of measured batting to decide the final outcome, and some crucial death overs to decide the final outcome. The team that handles the pressure better will win. The team that takes the catch will win. Small margins will decide these matches.
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This preview is based on verified team lists, tournament fixtures, pitch expectations and recent team form. Cricket matches remain unpredictable and performances on the day can be affected by weather and toss decisions and individual excellence.
Ireland’s captain in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is Paul Stirling.
Oman’s captain in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is Jatinder Singh.
Ireland will face Oman on 14 February 2026. This match is scheduled to start at 11:00 AM IST.
The IRE vs OMA T20 World Cup 2026 match will be played at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
This match is the 22nd match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in the Group B stage.
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