Just four years on from making their T20I debut, it is a mark of the country’s development in the ensuing years that they made it to this stage after edging out Kenya on run-rate in the qualifying event in Ireland and Scotland.
The odds will be firmly stacked against the Gulf side who have won a third of their last nine games in the format.
And it doesn’t get much trickier for Sultan Ahmed and his charges than an Irish side familiar with upsetting the establishment in this tournament.
Alongside Bangladesh, the Irish are favourites to progress to the Super 10 stage and will be hoping to navigate Oman before the sterner test against the Asia Cup runners-up on Friday.
Following a disappointing outing in the 2014 edition, William Porterfield’s side will be desperate to avoid another year of failure.
They have been inconsistent in the build-up to this tournament having resoundingly beaten Hong Kong in their first warm-up match before being humbled by Zimbabwe.
WHAT THEY SAID
Porterfield: “We’ve seen quite a lot of footage on them, how they go about their cricket … we’re going to have to be right on top of it tomorrow, and put them under pressure. They scored quite a few runs in the Asia Cup – I think the only blip they had was against the UAE – and they beat Scotland in their only warm-up.”
Ahmed: “”If mankading is so wrong, why is it in the rules of the game? It is the batsman who is violating the spirit of cricket by stealing yards.””
LAST FOUR RESULTS
IRE
Ireland (155/8) lost to Zimbabwe (160/4) by 6 wickets
Hong Kong (120/7) lost to Ireland (122/0) by 10 wickets
UAE (133/7) beat Ireland (128/9) by 5 runs
Ireland (134/8) beat UAE (100) by 34 runs
OMAN
Afghanistan (N/R)
Oman (161/6) beat Scotland (147/7) by 14 runs
UAE (172/6) beat Oman (101/8) by 71 runs
Oman (165/4) lost to Afghanistan (168/7) by 3 wickets
PREDICTION
There is little doubt that Oman will enjoy the occasion and play without fear but they simply shouldn’t have what it takes to beat an experienced, highly talented Irish side. Expect this one to be pure entertainment and keep an eye on Mankad extraordinaire Aamir Kaleem.
PREDICTED LINEUPS
Ireland: William Porterfield (c), Paul Sterling, Stuart Poynter, Garry Wilson, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Andy McBrine, George Dockrell, Boyd Rankin, Tim Murtagh, Craig Young
Oman: Zeeshan Maqsood, Jatinder Singh, Aaqib Sulehri, Adnan Ilyas, Aamir Kaleem, Sultan Ahmed (c), Mehran Khan, Amir Ali, Sufyan Mehmood, Munis Ansari, Bilal Khan
