Zimbabwe claimed an eight-wicket win over Oman in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign opener at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground on Monday.

Chasing Oman’s modest total of 104, Zimbabwe reached the target in 14 overs, losing just two wickets. Openers Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani gave the team a strong start, scoring quickly in a low-scoring contest.

Marumani was dismissed in the fourth over by Sufyan Mehmood for 21 off 11 balls, which included five boundaries, breaking the 30-run opening stand. Shortly after, Dion Myers fell for a second-ball duck, leaving Zimbabwe at 30-2 in 3.3 overs.

Brian Bennett found support from Brendan Taylor, and together they took the team past the 50-run mark in the seventh over, achieving a 50-run partnership.

However, Taylor retired hurt after scoring 31 off 30 balls, making way for skipper Sikandar Raza.

Raza struck a boundary to hit the winning runs, remaining unbeaten on five off two deliveries, while Bennett top-scored with 48 off 36 balls, including seven fours.

Batting first, Oman got off to a disappointing start as captain Jatinder Singh was dismissed for a run-a-ball five on the first delivery of the second over, bowled by Blessing Muzarabani.

The pressure intensified in the following over when Hammad Mirza was dismissed for a five-ball duck by Richard Ngarava, leaving Oman struggling early at 8-2 in 2.2 overs.

Oman slipped further in the fourth over as Kaleem was dismissed cheaply for five off seven deliveries, including one boundary. In the same over, Karan Sonavale was sent back for a duck, compounding Oman’s troubles.

The collapse continued when Sikandar Raza clean-bowled Wasim Ali for three off eight deliveries reducing Oman to 27-5 in six overs.

Sufyan Mehmood and Vinayak Shukla then attempted to steady the innings, putting together a 42-run partnership to take the total past the 50-run mark.

However, Ngarava broke the stand by dismissing Shukla for 28 off 21 deliveries, featuring four boundaries, with the score at 69-6 in 14.1 overs.

In the same over, Oman lost their seventh wicket as Jiten Ramanandi was dismissed for one off three balls, giving Ngarava his third wicket of the innings.

Brad Evans struck in the 17th over to remove Mehmood, who top-scored with 25 off 39 deliveries, including two fours. Despite early struggles, Nadeem Khan and Shakeel Ahmed added some late runs.

Evans bowled the final over and dismissed Shakeel for four, while Shah Faisal struck a boundary off his first delivery to take Oman past the 100-run mark.

Nadeem Khan was the final wicket to fall, dismissed by Evans after scoring a crucial 20 off 18 deliveries.

For Zimbabwe, Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans and Richard Ngarava led the bowling attack with three wickets each, while Sikandar Raza chipped in with one.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Monday said that talks were ongoing between the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Bangladesh on the situation regarding the T20 World Cup.

The World Cup, featuring 20 teams divided into four groups, began on Saturday. Pakistan opened its campaign with a victory over the Netherlands in a Group A fixture on February 7. Originally, Bangladesh had been included in the slate but requested the ICC to shift its matches from India to Sri Lanka after its star player, Mustafeezur Rehman, was released from the Indian Premier League following objections from ruling party activists. The ICC declined the request and replaced Bangladesh with Scotland.

Pakistan took a principled stand in support of Bangladesh and protested the ICC’s decision, a move that further strained relations with the governing body. The federal government also ordered the team not to play the match against India in Colombo.

Naqvi held prolonged discussions with Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam and an ICC delegation, including Deputy Chairman Imran Khawaja, at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday over the Pakistan–India T20 World Cup row. The ICC is expected to inform the PCB within the next couple of days of its response to Pakistan’s conditions and proposals. In the next phase, Naqvi is set to brief Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the matters discussed. He made it clear during the talks that the final decision rests with the Government of Pakistan.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore after the auction for the Pakistan Super League’s Multan team, Naqvi said: “The issue was one between the ICC and Bangladesh. We could not allow Bangladesh’s point of view to let go of [unheard]; they are our brothers. Matters are underway and the ICC and Bangladesh board are in that phase where it won’t be appropriate if I say more so I myself am waiting for information from them and then we will tell you.”

Questioned about reports of a restriction or fine on Pakistan for its decision, the PCB chief said: “I am not afraid of a threat, nor the government and you know about the field marshal so that is why there is no issue.”

On reports about Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates trying to mediate in the matter, Naqvi confirmed that several countries, including allied nations, were involved in the matter and briefed on Pakistan’s perspective.

“Let’s see what happens. You will have an idea soon.”