TOI Sports Desk
Following a closely contested match against Namibia, Ilyas has encouraged his team to approach the game against Australia with the same mindset as any other match, despite Australia’s aim to secure global trophies across all formats after their recent World Test Championship (WTC) and ODI World Cup victories.
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Ilyas highlighted the psychological aspect of the game, suggesting that recognizing the stature of the Australian team but not allowing it to affect their performance is crucial.
He believes that the conditions in Barbados, characterized by unpredictable weather and a potentially challenging pitch, could level the playing field between the two teams. The Oman captain, who is skilled in both leg- and off-spin bowling, sees these factors as advantageous for Oman, particularly in exploiting Australia’s potential vulnerabilities to spin bowling.
“Once you step into the field, there is no big name, there is no one bigger than you at the field. It’s another game for us and we don’t think that we are going to play someone extraordinary,” Ilyas said during the pre-match presentation.
He pointed out that both teams have qualified for the tournament, underscoring the opportunity for Oman to compete on an equal footing with Australia.
“I don’t have to go and tell them as a captain that you are going to face [Mitchell] Starc. Already it comes to your mind when you are playing some top bowlers or top cricketers. So it’s been very positive from the management [and] also from the coach, he said we don’t even take their names – it’s just a team that has come and still they are at the same level what we are doing. We have also qualified, they have also qualified, one team is going to be the champion so it doesn’t make much difference, though we respect them [and] what they have [done] in the past. That is why they are named as world champions,” added the Oman captain.
He recounted Oman’s previous match at Kensington Oval, noting the pitch’s challenging conditions, which he believes could again play a role in the upcoming match against Australia.
“You see the last match, how the ball was turning and staying low. [Australia] had a few good technique players [against spin] in the past like [Steven] Smith and [Marnus] Labuschagne but I don’t think they have many now. They look to hit big. Everyone tries to go for sixes but every day it is not the same day and if the same wicket is there, maybe it can be a problem for them,” Ilyas said.
The Oman captain expressed confidence in his team’s ability to perform under pressure, commenting, “The boys are really pumped up. When you come up against the top sides, that is when you get highlighted all over the world. The boys have a lot of opportunity. The thing is we don’t have much to lose. Every time there is a World Cup, there is an upset … the weather, how it is behaving, anything can happen.”
Ilyas expressed respect for the Australian team but maintained a focus on the potential for Oman to learn from the encounter and possibly impart some lessons of their own. “After the game, of course there are great players in their side, and we can learn a lot from them. But maybe even they might be able to learn something from us,” concluded the Oman skipper.
(Inputs from ANI)