AqibIlyas previews Oman v Namibia T20 world cup game
AqibIlyas previews Oman v Namibia T20 world cup game
01/06/2024
Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
01/06/2024
Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
Category
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SportsTranscript
00:00 [INAUDIBLE]
00:03 Your first thoughts on playing the main format of World Cup,
00:07 Oman, and playing the qualifier twice.
00:10 You were to play in May 1, but that time the format
00:12 was different.
00:13 That time you were the main group.
00:14 You play against different champions, former champions,
00:17 and you have a partner in India.
00:19 So how was the Oman preparation so far?
00:22 You came early.
00:23 You were the first team to come to West Indies.
00:26 You played the Indians, except for West Indies.
00:29 So how was the preparation?
00:31 How was the build up?
00:32 What were your thoughts?
00:33 And how good are Oman's chances?
00:36 Yeah, so the first thing is it's really great to be
00:38 the part of the main stage World Cup T20.
00:41 And Oman has done really well.
00:42 Over the years, they've been qualifying
00:45 and going in the eliminators.
00:46 And now, alhamdulillah, we have made it to the main stage.
00:49 And our preparations, they are really good.
00:52 First good thing is our management.
00:53 They got us before over here, three weeks.
00:55 We had a camp in Barbados.
00:57 So we can get acclimatized to the situation.
01:00 And then the thing is the wickets and everything.
01:02 We played three games over here, which were really useful to us.
01:05 In Barbados, we got to know that the wickets are a bit at a slower side.
01:08 And we had some quality practice games.
01:11 After that, we went to Trinidad, where we played two practice games.
01:14 Once against PNZ and Afghanistan, which Oman did really well.
01:18 So yeah, it's really motivating us.
01:22 And hopefully, we are not thinking much about all the games.
01:25 You know, first game is against Namibia.
01:26 So we are focusing on the first game.
01:28 And we are thinking on the positives only.
01:30 From the camp and the-- I didn't get your question.
01:39 Can I--
01:40 From camp and practice games.
01:41 Yeah.
01:42 [INAUDIBLE]
01:43 The positive things to take away-- you know, wickets, I feel at a slower side.
01:46 You know, the wickets are not that good, which we played.
01:48 You know, it depends on how the wickets are prepared for the main games.
01:51 But it is going to help us, because, you know, it's at a bit of a slower side.
01:54 We have top quality spinners over in our side.
01:57 And a lot of skillful batsmen who can play good at these kind of wickets.
02:02 And we have a lot of plans, because these wickets are a bit similar to Oman.
02:05 Especially the conditions.
02:06 They are very similar to Oman.
02:07 You know, windy conditions and humid conditions.
02:10 So for us, it is easy.
02:12 You know, it never feels that we are to a new place.
02:14 So hopefully, our batsmen-- and if you take the Afghanistan game,
02:18 most of our batsmen, they did really well.
02:19 We got a good target on the spinning track, which gives us more confidence.
02:22 So if we get on a flat track, hopefully, chances are there
02:25 to get more runs on the target.
02:28 And our bowlers, they are very good throughout the tournament.
02:31 So, alhamdulillah, many positives to take from the games.
02:34 [INAUDIBLE]
02:50 No, it's fairly important.
02:51 You know, in the past, they had to face a lot of issues.
02:55 But now, thanks to ICC, that they have gone up to-- you know,
02:57 extended the number to 20.
02:58 And most of the associate players, they come in,
03:01 and they are really working hard on themselves.
03:03 And you get to see in the past now, just before the practice
03:05 games of the World Cup, you see a few of the upsets from many of the teams.
03:09 Even in the World Cup, every year, you get to see an upset.
03:11 So that is why, you know, associate teams, when they compete against the top teams,
03:15 you know, then is the moment they come to know where they stand,
03:17 where the other teams are standing.
03:19 And the world also knows how talented associate cricket is.
03:22 So now, many of the things, you know, sponsors are coming behind.
03:25 Everything is coming behind.
03:26 So this is what motivates the associate nation.
03:29 And they get a lot of coverage.
03:30 And this is the moment where they can show-- where they can show us their talent.
03:34 So yeah, everyone has been working hard.
03:36 I've seen guys working 100% more than what they used to do in the past,
03:40 as when they qualified for the World Cup.
03:42 So hopefully, you are going to see some top-quality batsmen,
03:44 some top-quality bowlers from the associate, and some top-quality all-rounders
03:48 in this tournament, and maybe many upsets also.
03:51 In terms of who you can expect to play against Oman,
03:56 can you give us an idea of the players you're looking to deliver for Oman this time?
04:01 See, I won't name any single player from the team,
04:03 because all of them have done really well in the past.
04:05 And, you know, it's a team game.
04:07 In every game, you know, it's not necessary that only someone does well.
04:10 All the players, you know, they add up in the winning of the squad.
04:13 And they are the best in Oman, the best team we have got.
04:16 So that is why they are here.
04:17 So hopefully, they are going to do well.
04:19 And I will name only one guy.
04:21 Not one guy. We have Bilal Khan, who is really good, one of the best associate bowlers.
04:25 And then associate player of the year was Zeeshan.
04:28 Then I have to name myself. Over the past, I have done very well.
04:31 So like this, we have many other players who have done very well in the winning of Oman.
04:35 But these three, four are the ones, you know, they are consistent with the performances.
04:39 And they have added up a lot in qualifying of the team, you know, for the main stages.
04:44 [inaudible]
04:53 Yeah, what I feel is, you know, when they come from different areas, these wickets, you know,
04:58 it's not about the conditions, maybe not much.
05:00 But only thing is it is about the wicket, you know.
05:02 The players, they are more concerned about the, you know, wicket rather than about the conditions.
05:06 So only thing is, if the wicket is, you know, not their favorite,
05:10 then there are negative things which come to your mind.
05:12 But when we came here, all the positive things came to our mind.
05:15 Because, you know, wickets are at the slower side.
05:17 Not that good, not that flat tracks what we got.
05:19 So hopefully, whatever it is, you know, it is very suitable for us.
05:23 And I am not sure about the other teams.
05:25 But I feel if the wickets are at the slower side, they are going to struggle, you know.
05:29 [inaudible]
05:51 Yeah, exactly.
05:52 One thing is that only Oman is the team to beat Nepal in front of that massive crowd,
05:58 you know, around 50,000 people, they come to watch you.
06:00 So we are the cricketers who love to play in front of crowd, you know.
06:03 It's no pressure of the crowd, you know.
06:04 We are not much concerned about the crowd.
06:06 It's good when number of people, you know, you play cricket so that people watch you
06:09 and they know they enjoy your game and they enjoy your talent.
06:12 So it's good.
06:13 And the thing is in Nepal also the wickets were similar.
06:15 And you could see Oman did really well.
06:17 We were the champions over there.
06:18 We qualified, especially that Super Over.
06:20 And that was a memorable match for us.
06:22 And we qualified for the main stage.
06:24 So yeah, a lot of positives to take from because, you know,
06:26 there are a few players who get panicked when you play in front of a huge crowd
06:29 or massive crowd at big stages.
06:31 But, you know, playing in Nepal, it helped us a lot because it was totally packed
06:35 by 50,000 people.
06:36 So you never expect a lot of people everywhere.
06:38 So we did really well on those conditions.
06:41 And those conditions are most similar to these conditions what we have in West Indies.
06:45 So hopefully it is really good for Oman cricket team.
06:48 [Question]
07:14 You know, unfortunately, that was the time when I was at my peak among the
07:17 associate cricketers and I was giving the best for Oman cricket.
07:20 And I had the will to play the tournament.
07:22 But unfortunately, due to illness, I had to go out.
07:24 But, yeah, every game I step in, every time I step into the 22 yards,
07:28 I'm more thankful now.
07:29 And I want to give my best.
07:30 I don't want to take any regrets when I go back and I feel like I should have
07:34 given something better, you know, 100% I could have given but I didn't give.
07:38 So now when I step out at the field, now as I'm leaving the side also,
07:41 I have more responsibilities.
07:43 I have to be more smart on the field and, you know, I have to give my 100%.
07:47 And, you know, rest, it's all in the Almighty's hand.
07:50 Only thing is we have worked really hard in the past in the camp and everything.
07:54 We never skipped or we were very loyal to our practices and to our cricket.
07:58 So now when we step in on the field, it's only just the mind game
08:01 and the presence and game awareness.
08:04 So hopefully I'm looking for some big performances to get at least two men
08:08 of the matches in the first round of, you know, the first round.
08:12 So let's hope for good.
08:14 [Question]
08:23 No, no, we think we are the favorites.
08:24 You can't say it's we or the Nets, you know.
08:26 We have played really quality cricket in the past and maybe as a team we have
08:30 already played against them and we know what their strength is,
08:33 what their weakness is.
08:34 And I feel, what I feel if what all the plans we have made,
08:37 if we execute them on the field, you know, it's going to be a good game
08:40 and Man is going to be the favorites.
08:42 [Question]
08:55 No, no, obviously you have the upper hand when you win against any of the teams,
08:59 you know.
09:00 We defeated them badly in one of the games, you know, they got out for 100 runs.
09:03 So anything is possible in cricket, you know.
09:05 But still when it's a new game you have to come fresh up.
09:08 You can't think that they lost to you in the last game and, you know,
09:10 again they are going to lose.
09:12 They are also going to come back strong.
09:14 So every new game you have to, you know, you have a fresh mind,
09:18 you have to think again and you have to execute your plans on that day.
09:21 It matters a lot.
09:22 Thank you.