Oman confident ahead of ACC Premier Cup challenge

Oman's national cricket team is poised to begin their ACC Premier Cup 2026 campaign in Malaysia on Sunday, fueled by confidence from a successful preparation period and the memory of their previous runners-up finish. Head coach Sulakshan Kulkarni believes his squad is well-equipped to perform strongly in the high-stakes 50-over tournament.

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We have high hopes for the boys. They prepared well and are coming to the tournament with confidence.

This edition presents a different challenge for Oman, as they transition from the T20I format of the previous tournament to the 50-over competition. Success in this format holds significant rewards: the champions will earn a coveted spot in the Asia Cup, while the top three teams will qualify for the Rising Stars Asia Cup. Oman's opening match in Group B is against Singapore on August 30.

Coach Kulkarni has expressed optimism about his team's readiness. "We have high hopes for the boys. They prepared well and are coming to the tournament with confidence," he stated. Oman recently participated in a warm-up series against India's domestic side Goa, which included both T20I and 50-over matches. While Oman won the T20 series 2-0, they lost the 50-over series 2-1. Kulkarni viewed this series as a valuable opportunity to test combinations and prepare for the Premier Cup.

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We have a well-balanced squad and I thank the selectors for ensuring the right balance. There are quite a few experienced players and I am hopeful that the boys will bring home positive results.

The squad boasts a blend of experience and emerging talent, which Kulkarni believes is key to their challenge. "We have a well-balanced squad and I thank the selectors for ensuring the right balance. There are quite a few experienced players and I am hopeful that the boys will bring home positive results," he said. Notable players returning include Karan Sonavale and Hassnain Wahab, the latter earning his spot after a strong showing against Goa.

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We will do well in this tournament.

This tournament also marks a significant assignment for Vinayak Shukla, who will captain Oman for the first time in a major competition. Kulkarni has backed Shukla, describing him as a "confident leader with a strong tactical understanding of the game." Oman is grouped with UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Singapore, facing each team in the league stage. Their schedule includes matches against Qatar on September 2, Kuwait on September 5, and UAE on September 8. All matches will be streamed live on the ACC YouTube channel.

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confident leader with a strong tactical understanding of the game.