Oman will begin their campaign in the men’s cricket competition at the 2026 Asian Games when they take on Hong Kong in Match 3 on September 25 at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan. The contest is scheduled to begin at 9:00 AM local time (5:30 AM IST).

The match will be played in the T20 format, with Oman and Hong Kong drawn alongside Malaysia in Group B. The top two teams from the group will progress to the quarter-finals, making the opening fixture particularly important for both sides.

Oman have named a 15-member squad led by Sufyan Mehmood. The squad is notable because Oman are represented by an all-Omani group at the Asian Games, following their qualification from the Asian Games Qualifier in Singapore.

The squad includes wicketkeeper-batter Muzaffar Shiralkar and a number of players with the Al Balushi surname, including Mohammed Ali, Zubair, Shuaib, Nawed, Wasim, Waheed, Faris, Issa Rahim and Qais. Mohammed Osman, Sameer Othman, Ahmed Al Zadjali and Abdul Jalil complete the squad.

Here is the predicted playing XI for Oman against Hong Kong:

1. Sufyan Mehmood (Captain)

Sufyan Mehmood is expected to lead Oman from the front and should occupy a prominent position in the batting order. As captain, he will have the responsibility of managing a relatively young international group on a major multi-sport stage.

His all-round abilities could also give Oman flexibility with their bowling combinations. With only two group matches, Mehmood’s leadership and ability to contribute in multiple departments will be central to Oman’s campaign.

2. Muzaffar Shiralkar (WK)

Muzaffar Shiralkar is likely to take the gloves and could open the batting. The wicketkeeper-batter is one of the key players in Oman’s 15-member squad and is also listed as the team’s vice-captain.

His dual responsibility behind the stumps and at the top of the order makes him an important part of the predicted combination.

3. Mohammed Ali Al Balushi

Mohammed Ali Al Balushi could feature in the top order and provide Oman with an attacking option during the powerplay. With T20 cricket demanding quick starts, his ability to score briskly will be important against Hong Kong’s pace attack.

He could also be used according to the match situation, particularly if Oman need to accelerate during the middle overs.

4. Zubair Al Balushi

Zubair Al Balushi is another likely member of Oman’s top or middle order. His inclusion would give the team another right-handed batting option and help build depth around the captain and Shiralkar.

If the openers provide Oman with a good platform, Zubair could be tasked with maintaining the scoring rate through the middle overs.

5. Shuaib Al Balushi

Shuaib Al Balushi could slot into the middle order while also offering an additional bowling option. In a T20 setup, players capable of contributing in more than one department are particularly valuable.

His role could become even more important if Oman lose early wickets and need someone to rebuild the innings before launching an attack late on.

6. Nawed Al Balushi

Nawed Al Balushi is another candidate for the middle-order role. Oman are likely to prefer a balanced XI rather than loading the side with specialist batters, and Nawed could provide flexibility in both innings.

His presence would allow the captain to adjust the batting order according to the match situation.

7. Wasim Al Balushi

Wasim Al Balushi could provide another all-round option in the XI. The ability to contribute with both bat and ball is particularly useful in T20 cricket, where captains frequently need additional bowling options.

He could be deployed as a middle-over bowler or used later in the batting order if Oman require additional hitting.

8. Ahmed Al Zadjali

Ahmed Al Zadjali is expected to be one of Oman’s bowling options. With Hong Kong possessing experienced batters such as Babar Hayat, Anshuman Rath and Nizakat Khan, Oman will need bowlers capable of maintaining discipline throughout the innings.

Al Zadjali could therefore have an important role in restricting Hong Kong’s scoring rate.

9. Sameer Othman

Sameer Othman could complete Oman’s core bowling group. His selection would provide captain Mehmood with another option to rotate through the middle and latter stages of Hong Kong’s innings.

The ability to keep the run flow under control will be especially important if Hong Kong’s experienced top order gets off to a fast start.

10. Waheed Al Balushi

Waheed Al Balushi is another player who could feature as part of the bowling attack. Oman have several players capable of sharing bowling duties, which should allow Mehmood to manage workloads effectively.

His role could be particularly important if the pitch offers assistance to slower or disciplined bowling.

11. Faris Al Balushi

Faris Al Balushi is predicted to complete the XI. He could provide another bowling option while also adding depth to the lower order. His inclusion would give Oman a reasonably deep lineup, allowing the side to maintain a balanced approach across both innings.

Predicted Playing XI of Oman vs Hong Kong

Sufyan Mehmood (c), Muzaffar Shiralkar (wk), Mohammed Ali Al Balushi, Zubair Al Balushi, Shuaib Al Balushi, Nawed Al Balushi, Wasim Al Balushi, Ahmed Al Zadjali, Sameer Othman, Waheed Al Balushi, Faris Al Balushi

Note: This is a predicted XI based on Oman’s announced 15-member Asian Games squad and the currently available probable-XI information. The official playing XI will be confirmed at the toss.