Pakistan’s Dominance Over Oman
Any combination of 11 players in the green of Pakistan should overwhelmingly succeed against Oman.
In nearly every international or continental tournament, there are a few teams that don’t seem to belong but still participate. This mismatch often arises from legitimate representation issues, but it could also reflect an administrator’s desire for a grander tournament and bigger prizes.
Oman fits this narrative perfectly. Their current state as a small cricket team, facing Pakistan in their opening Asia Cup 2025 match in Dubai, raises eyebrows. Pakistan, a two-time former champion, recently defeated Afghanistan, often regarded as one of Asia’s top teams, further solidifying their superiority.
This Pakistani team can even afford to leave out star players like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, both top T20I run-scorers, while still remaining extremely competitive. An analytical preview of the match seems unnecessary; it would be akin to advising a prime Wasim Akram against a helmet-less seven-year-old playing in the 90s.
Any 11 players donning the green of Pakistan should achieve victory effortlessly. Whether it’s a lineup filled with batters, spinners, or even coaches, the odds are in their favor. One could even suggest that coach Mike Hesson could open the batting, highlighting their dominance on paper.
This isn’t merely an anti-Oman critique. The situation is exacerbated since the Omani team has seen significant changes in the past two years due to a pay dispute with their cricket board. Many experienced players who helped Oman qualify for this Asia Cup have been replaced by inexperienced newcomers, some of whom lack even basic online profiles.
While Oman hasn’t been given adequate preparation—having lost three consecutive T20I matches to the USA months ago—Pakistan has remained active. While Oman faces the seemingly impossible challenge of overcoming Pakistan, it’s essential to note that Pakistan often struggles to perform as expected, as seen in their recent World Cup opener against the USA. Nevertheless, Oman doesn’t seem to possess even a sliver of chance against such a formidable opponent.
