The Group B action of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 continues today as Zimbabwe take on Oman at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on February 9, 2026. The match is scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM IST (1:30 PM local time).
Zimbabwe enter the contest as the more experienced side, but Oman will be high on confidence after defeating them in a recent warm-up game. With conditions expected to assist spin, this game could turn into a tactical battle rather than a high-scoring contest.
Match Details
| Match | Zimbabwe vs Oman |
|---|---|
| Tournament | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Group | Group B |
| Date | 9 February 2026 |
| Venue | Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo |
| Time | 3:00 PM IST |
| Live | Star Sports & JioHotstar |
First-Ever Official T20I Meeting
This will be the first official T20 International between Zimbabwe and Oman. However, the recent warm-up result has added an interesting twist to the contest.
In the practice match played earlier in Colombo, Zimbabwe posted 187/7, but Oman chased it down successfully in 19.2 overs, winning by four wickets. That performance has boosted Oman’s belief that they can challenge a full-member side on the big stage.
Also see: ZIM vs OMN Toss Prediction Match 8th T20 World Cup 2026
Pitch Report – Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo
The SSC surface is expected to offer a balanced contest, but spin is likely to play a major role as the game progresses. Batters can score freely early on, but the pitch tends to slow down in the middle overs, bringing spinners into the game.
| Pitch Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Average 1st Innings Score | 150–160 (approx.) |
| Nature | Slow surface, spin-friendly later |
| Toss Trend | Chasing sides have slight advantage |
| Weather | Warm (28–30°C), humid, no rain expected |
| Dew Factor | Minimal (day game) |
A total of 160+ could be competitive under these conditions.
Also see: ZIM vs OMN Dream11 Prediction Today Match 8th, Player Stats
Probable Playing XIs
Zimbabwe
Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Dion Myers/Clive Madande, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga/Tashinga Musekiwa, Brendan Taylor (wk), Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani/Tinotenda Maposa, Brad Evans/Graeme Cremer
Oman
Jatinder Singh (c), Aamir Kaleem, Hammad Mirza, Wasim Ali/Karan Sonavale, Vinayak Shukla (wk), Jiten Ramanandi, Nadeem Khan, Shakeel Ahmed/Shah Faisal, Jay Odedra/Sufyan Mehmood
Key Players to Watch
Zimbabwe
- Sikandar Raza – Match-winning all-rounder and key spinner
- Ryan Burl – Power-hitting finisher
- Richard Ngarava – New-ball threat
Oman
- Jatinder Singh – Experienced opener
- Wasim Ali – Impact all-rounder
- Jay Odedra / Nadeem Khan – Spin options for middle overs
Match Scenario & Prediction
Zimbabwe have the edge in experience and overall squad depth, but Oman’s recent win in the warm-up shows they cannot be taken lightly. If Oman’s spinners control the middle overs and their top order provides a solid start, an upset is possible.
However, with players like Sikandar Raza leading the side, Zimbabwe start as slight favourites in what could be a closely fought contest.
