Singapore: Oman’s national cricket team finished fourth in the Asian Games 2026 qualifiers after losing to Malaysia by eight wickets in the third-place playoff match held in Singapore today.
Despite the defeat, Oman secured qualification for the cricket competition at the 20th Asian Games, scheduled to take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October 2026, after reaching the semi-final stage of the qualifiers.
The Omani squad, comprising a number of young players making their debut in the tournament, delivered a competitive performance and gained valuable international experience against emerging Asian teams. Captain Sufyan Mahmoud was the only player with previous participation in the competition.
Oman began its campaign with positive results and advanced to the semi-finals before losing to Nepal. The team then fell to Malaysia in the third-place playoff, having also suffered a group-stage defeat to Hong Kong.
The cricket tournament at the 2026 Asian Games will feature ten teams: Oman, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Japan, Nepal, Malaysia and Hong Kong.
The men’s cricket competition is scheduled to begin on 24 September 2026, with the final set to be played on 3 October.
The team’s coaching staff said the campaign achieved its primary objectives of securing qualification for the Asian Games and providing young players with valuable competitive experience in preparation for future continental competitions.
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