The underdogs meet in Colombo as Ireland and Oman battle for survival in Group B of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Both teams know what it feels like to be overlooked by cricket’s bigger names, but neither backs down from a fight.
Paul Stirling’s Ireland arrives with associate cricket’s best success story, punching above their weight for years. Jatinder Singh leads Oman’s warriors who have grown from desert cricket dreams into World Cup reality.
The morning sun rises over the Sinhalese Sports Club on February 14, bringing with it a match where both teams face a simple truth: lose and go home, win and keep dreaming. No room for second chances in this Group B showdown.
IRE vs OMN T20 World Cup Match Details
The action moves to Colombo’s historic cricket ground for this important Group B match that could shape both teams’ paths in the tournament.
The Sinhalese Sports Club has witnessed many memorable cricket moments over the years.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match Number | 22nd Match, Group B |
| Date | Friday, February 14, 2026 |
| Time (Local) | 11:00 AM |
| Time (GMT) | 5:30 AM |
| Venue | Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo |
The Sinhalese Sports Club is one of Sri Lanka’s most respected cricket venues, with a capacity of 10,000 spectators. The ground has boundaries between the Tennis Courts End and the South End, creating a traditional atmosphere for this Group B clash.
Weather Report
Colombo’s tropical climate will play an important role in this morning’s match as both teams prepare to deal with Sri Lankan weather conditions during play.
| Parameter | Forecast Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 28-32°C (Warm and humid) |
| Humidity | 70-80% |
| Rain Chance | 25% (Mostly sunny with clouds) |
| Wind Speed | 12-18 km/h |
| Cloud Cover | Mostly sunny |
The warm Colombo morning with high humidity will challenge players’ stamina levels. The gentle breeze might help the fast bowlers in the early overs. Rain chances are moderate, but fans should expect a full match without major interruptions.
Pitch Report
The Sinhalese Sports Club pitch has a good reputation for providing balanced conditions that help both batters and bowlers in limited-overs cricket matches played here.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Nature | The surface offers decent bounce with some help for bowlers. Batters need to watch the ball carefully early on. |
| Batting Assistance | Run-scoring gets easier as the innings go on. Batters can play their shots once they settle in at the crease. |
| Bowling Assistance | Fast bowlers get good movement in the morning session. Spinners can grip the ball and turn it as the match continues. |
| Boundary Size | Square boundaries are about 55-60 meters. Straight boundaries reach around 65-70 meters. |
| Ideal First Innings Score | Teams batting first aim for 160-170 on this ground. Scores above 165 give good defending chances. |
| Toss Impact | Winning the toss gives teams the choice to bat or bowl based on their strengths and weather conditions. |
The Sinhalese Sports Club pitch supports competitive cricket with chances for both departments.
Both teams will need to use the powerplay overs wisely and adapt their plans based on how the pitch behaves during the match.
IRE vs OMN T20 World Cup Match Squads
Both nations have picked strong 15-player squads that mix experienced cricketers with promising young players for this important World Cup tournament.
Ireland Squad
Paul Stirling (c), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Harry Tector, Tim Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Ben White, Craig Young
Oman Squad
Jatinder Singh (c), Aamir Kaleem, Hammad Mirza (wk), Jay Odedra, Mohammad Nadeem, Nadeem Khan, Ashish Odedara, Jiten Ramanandi, Shafiq Jan, Shah Faisal, Shakeel Ahmed, Vinayak Shukla (wk), Karan Sonavale, Sufyan Mehmood, Wasim Ali
Ireland brings a well-balanced squad with Paul Stirling leading a group that includes quality all-rounders and skilled bowlers. Oman features dedicated players who can surprise opponents with their commitment and team spirit on the field.
Key Players to Watch
Several important players from both teams could decide the match result with their special skills and ability to perform under pressure in big tournament matches.
Key Batters
| Player | Team | T20I Stats | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Stirling | Ireland | 3,895 runs in 163 matches at 26.31 average, SR 134.35 | Captain and opening batter |
| Harry Tector | Ireland | 1,831 runs in 97 matches at 25.08 average, SR 122.22 | Middle-order anchor |
| Curtis Campher | Ireland | 1,055 runs in 69 matches at 21.10 average, SR 124.11 | All-rounder who bats and bowls |
| Jatinder Singh | Oman | 1,611 runs in 74 matches at 24.04 average, SR 120.40 | Captain and top-order batter |
| Aamir Kaleem | Oman | 729 runs in 56 matches at 17.35 average, SR 112.15 | Middle-order batter |
Key Bowlers
| Player | Team | T20I Stats | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Little | Ireland | 82 wickets in 76 matches at 7.63 economy rate | Fast bowler with pace and swing |
| Mark Adair | Ireland | 142 wickets in 99 matches at 7.78 economy rate | All-rounder and pace bowler |
| George Dockrell | Ireland | 90 wickets in 156 matches at 6.98 economy rate | Experienced spinner and all-rounder |
| Bilal Khan | Oman | 110 wickets in 79 matches at 6.78 economy rate | Main fast bowler for Oman |
| Shakeel Ahmed | Oman | 34 wickets in 45 matches at 6.62 economy rate | Spinner who controls runs |
These players have strong records in T20 cricket and have shown they can handle big-match pressure. Their performances will likely be very important in deciding which team wins this contest.
Head-to-Head Record
Ireland and Oman have met several times in T20 International cricket, with their matches showing competitive cricket between these two teams over the years.
| Match Format | Total Matches Played | Ireland Won | Oman Won | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20I | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
Ireland leads the head-to-head record with 4 wins compared to Oman’s 2 victories in their 6 T20I meetings. This gives Ireland the advantage, but Oman has shown it can win against stronger teams. Both sides will come prepared, knowing this match is very important for their World Cup progress.
Live Streaming & Broadcast Details
Cricket fans around the world can watch this exciting match through different broadcasting partners across various regions and streaming platforms with expert analysis.
| Region/Country | Television | Digital/Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| India | Star Sports Network | JioHotstar |
| Oman | CricLife Max (via StarzPlay) | StarzPlay |
| Ireland | Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Main Event | NOW |
| Pakistan | PTV, Myco | Tamasha, ARY Zapp, Tapmad |
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Main Event | NOW |
| United States | Willow TV | Willow DTC, CricBuzz DTC, Willow YouTube |
Indian viewers can enjoy full coverage on Star Sports Network with expert analysis in multiple languages. JioHotstar provides easy streaming for mobile and digital platforms with multiple camera angles and special features for a better viewing experience.
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Conclusion: An important Group B contest
Ireland and Oman meet at Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club for a crucial Group B match in the T20 World Cup 2026. Both teams need this victory to stay alive in the tournament.
Ireland’s stronger squad and better head-to-head record make them favorites, but Oman can cause an upset with their determined approach. The morning conditions and balanced pitch promise competitive cricket with both bat and ball playing important roles.
