Zimbabwe and Oman will face each other in a crucial T20 World Cup warm-up match on February 5, 2026, at the Colombo Cricket Club Ground in Colombo. This match is especially significant, as both teams are in Group B of the T20 World Cup 2026 and will meet again in their tournament opener on February 9.
Zimbabwe enters this warm-up with momentum after beating the Netherlands by 29 runs in their first practice match. Oman also enjoyed a confidence-boosting five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka A, with Aamir Kaleem smashing an unbeaten 80 off 47 balls. Both teams will use this encounter to fine-tune their strategies and test combinations before the main event begins on February 7.
Zimbabwe vs Oman Match Preview
This warm-up match serves as a dress rehearsal for the Group B encounter between these two sides on February 9. Zimbabwe, led by Sikandar Raza, is back at a T20 World Cup after missing the 2024 edition. They sailed through the Africa Qualifier unbeaten and will look to carry that form into the tournament. Oman, captained by Jatinder Singh, qualified through the Asia-EAP Qualifier and is appearing in their fourth T20 World Cup.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Zimbabwe vs Oman, T20 World Cup Warm-up |
| Date | 05 February 2026 |
| Time | 11:00 AM Local / 11:00 AM IST / 5:30 AM GMT |
| Venue | Colombo Cricket Club Ground, Colombo |
| Series | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Warm-up Matches |
| Context | Both teams in Group B meet again on Feb 9 in the tournament |
Pitch Report
The Colombo Cricket Club Ground is one of the smaller cricket grounds in Sri Lanka with a capacity of around 6,000 spectators. The pitch is a classic sub-continental turner that offers significant assistance to spinners. The ball grips and turns, making it difficult for batters to score freely.
Fast bowlers can extract consistent bounce and pace early on, but spin becomes the dominant force as the match progresses. The surface favors lower-scoring encounters, with teams needing to adapt quickly to the conditions. Both Zimbabwe and Oman have quality spinners in their ranks, which could prove decisive.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Spin-friendly, turner |
| Average Score in T20s | Around 140-155 |
| Pace vs Spin | Spinners are dominant, and pacers are useful early |
| Toss Factor | Team batting second preferred due to the dew |
| Surface Behavior | Ball grips and offers variable bounce |
Weather Report
Colombo typically experiences warm, dry conditions in early February. The temperature on match day will range from 24°C to 32°C. With the match starting at 11:00 AM local time, players will face warm and humid conditions during the morning session.
February falls in Sri Lanka’s dry season, though brief tropical showers remain possible. Humidity levels are expected to be around 65-70%, which could help swing bowlers in the early overs. Overall, conditions should allow for a full 20-over contest.
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 24-32°C |
| Sky | Partly cloudy, mostly dry |
| Rain Chance | Low (around 5-10% early February) |
| Humidity | Around 65-70% |
| Overall | Warm and humid, suitable for cricket |
Toss Prediction
Given the spin-friendly nature of the pitch and the potential for dew in the second innings, the captain winning the toss is likely to choose to bowl first. Chasing becomes easier as the match progresses, as the ball becomes wet and comes off the bat better. However, since this is a morning match, dew may be less of a factor than in evening games. Teams could also opt to bat first to set a target and test their bowling combinations.
Injury Updates
Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe is in good shape heading into this warm-up. In their first warm-up match against the Netherlands, Ryan Burl scored an unbeaten 50 off 31 balls while Richard Ngarava took 3/11 with the new ball. Graeme Cremer impressed with 2/15 from three overs. The squad features three veterans in Sikandar Raza, Brendan Taylor, and Graeme Cremer, all aged 39, who form the backbone of the team. Brian Bennett, the 22-year-old opener, has been in exceptional form since the Africa Qualifiers. Blessing Muzarabani returns from injury to spearhead the pace attack.
Oman: Oman heads into this match with confidence after beating Sri Lanka A by five wickets. Aamir Kaleem was the star with an unbeaten 80 off 47 balls (8 fours, 3 sixes), while wicketkeeper Vinayak Shukla contributed 39 not out off 24 balls. The bowling unit performed well with Shah Faisal, Shakeel Ahmed, and Jay Odedra taking two wickets each. Captain Jatinder Singh is Oman’s most experienced player and leading T20 run-scorer. This is the team’s fourth appearance at the T20 World Cup. Notably, 43-year-old Aamir Kaleem was initially left out of the original squad but has since been re-added and has shown his value with a match-winning knock.
Dream11 Team For Zimbabwe vs Oman
Zimbabwe vs Oman Head-to-Head Records
Zimbabwe and Oman have a limited history of cricket matches against each other. They have met only once, in a 2023 ODI World Cup Qualifier warm-up match, which Zimbabwe won by 28 runs. This will be their first T20 meeting, making both teams unfamiliar with each other’s T20 strategies.
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Total Matches (ODI) | 1 |
| Zimbabwe Wins | 1 |
| Oman Wins | 0 |
| T20I Meetings | 0 (First T20 meeting) |
| Last Meeting | ODI Warm-up 2023, Zimbabwe won by 28 runs |
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Top Picks For The Match
| Player | Team | Role | Key Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sikandar Raza | ZIM | All-rounder/Captain | Experienced leader, third-highest wicket-taker at SA20 2026, joint second-fastest T20I century (33 balls) |
| Brian Bennett | ZIM | Batter | Leading run-scorer in Africa Qualifiers, T20I strike rate of 145.48, aggressive opener |
| Richard Ngarava | ZIM | Bowler | Left-arm pacer, took 3/11 vs Netherlands, excellent with the new ball |
| Graeme Cremer | ZIM | Bowler | Veteran leg-spinner, 2/15 vs Netherlands, crucial on spin-friendly tracks |
| Aamir Kaleem | OMA | Batter | In red-hot form, unbeaten 80 off 47 balls vs Sri Lanka A, 8 fours and 3 sixes |
| Vinayak Shukla | OMA | WK-Batter | Vice-captain, 39 not out off 24 vs Sri Lanka A, finishes games well |
| Jatinder Singh | OMA | Batter/Captain | Most experienced Oman player, leading T20 run-scorer for Oman |
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