"Don’t think they have players with good techniques"- Oman captain Aqib Ilyas ridicules Australia

Oman captain Aqib Ilyas made sensational comments on the Australian batters ahead of the match between the two teams in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. Aqib Ilyas stated that Australia doesn't have players with good technique in the absence of players like Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne.

Oman suffered a loss against Namibia in their first match in the World Cup at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. Oman managed to score 109 runs after being asked to bat first. The Oman bowlers successfully restricted Namibia to 109. However, they failed to chase down the target in the Super Over on Sunday.

Australia, on the other hand, will play their first World Cup match in Barbados, on Wednesday, June 5. All-rounder Mitchell Marsh will lead the team in the ICC tournament. The Men in Yellow will be hoping to begin their campaign with a victory and boost their confidence before the match against England.

They Look To Hit Big - Aqib Ilyas

Speaking to reporters ahead of the game, Aqib Ilyas said that his team's spinners can exploit Australia's batting lineup. Ilyas noted that the pitch conditions could favor his team's bowlers, highlighting how the ball turned and stayed low in their previous game against Namibia.

“You see the last match, how the ball was turning and staying low,” Ilyas told reporters on Tuesday.

“(Australia) used to have a few players with good techniques in the past like Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, but I don’t think they have many now. They look to hit big. They only try to go for sixes. If we get the same wicket (as the one against Namibia), maybe it could be a problem for them," he added.

We Need To Do Is Play With A Big Heart - Aqib Ilyas

Aqib Ilyas stated that they will need to play with a big heart and bowl in the right areas on slow surfaces, noting that the batter will be in trouble if the ball turns a bit or stays low.

“On a slower track with good quality spinners, the only thing we need to do is play with a big heart and put the ball in the right areas, because the ball doesn’t know how big (a reputation) the batter (has). If it turns a bit or it stays low, the batter is in trouble,” Aqib further stated.

We Respect Australia A Lot As A Team - Aqib Ilyas

The Oman captain mentioned that the players are motivated and have nothing to lose, noting that upsets can happen in World Cup matches. Ilyas stated that they respect Australia but are not intimidated by them before the game.

“The boys are really pumped up. We don’t have much to lose. Every time there is a World Cup, there is an upset … anything can happen. We respect (Australia) a lot as a team … but before the game, it’s important to not get overawed by them,” Ilyas concluded.

Khalid Kail (34 runs off 39), Zeeshan Maqsood (22 off 20), and Ayaan Khan (15 off 21) chipped in with useful contributions for Oman in their recent match in the World Cup. Mehran Khan picked up three wickets for just 7 runs in his four overs. Bilal Khan and Ayaan Khan took one wicket each against Namibia.

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