We look at the sides in Group B – Australia, Ireland, Sri Lanka, Oman and Zimbabwe, – for the T20 World Cup, live Ski Sports from February 7 to March 8.
Australia
Best score: Champions (2021)
2024 result: Knocked out in the Super 8s
How did they qualify in 2026? About the performance in the last T20 World Cup
Head coach: Andrew McDonald
Squad: Mitchell Marsh (capt), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matt Kuneman, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.
Players to watch: Swashbuckling dough Travis Head is the man for the big occasion, with hundreds helping his nation win Ashes Tests, the World Test Cup final and the 2023 50-over World Cup.
Australian Tim David smashed 102 off 37 balls against the West Indies last year
Team David, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Marsh are also big hitters, with David – who hit 102 off 37 balls against the West Indies in July – perhaps the greatest of them all.
Bowing out, Australia – swept 3-0 by Pakistan in the warm-up series – will rely on leg-spin Adam Zampawith Pat Cummins (back injury) missing the tournament and a question mark over Josh Hazlewood after seeing out the entire Ashes with anxiety.
The 35-year-old is ready to be out of work for at least the first half of the tournament.
First round matches: against Ireland (February 11, Colombo); against Zimbabwe (February 13, Colombo), against Sri Lanka (February 16, Palekele), against Oman (February 20, Palekele)
Ireland
Best score: Super 8s/Super 12s (2009, 2022)
2024 result: Knocked out in the first round
How did they qualify in 2026? Over T20 international rankings
Head coach: Heinrich Malan
Squad: Paul Stirling (captain), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delaney, George Dockrell, Matthew Humphreis, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Harry Tector, Tim Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young.
Players to watch: Captain and veteran Paul Stirling is the fifth highest run-scorer in men’s T20I history with over 3,800 to his name, but will need the support of Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker if Ireland are to challenge for the Super 8s.
Irish spinner Matthew Humphreys is likely to take charge of the new ball at the World Cup
Curtis Campher it’s important with the bat and the ball, while watching for skillful left-hand spin Matthew Humphreysalso, the man Ireland like to deploy with the new ball.
First round matches: against Sri Lanka (February 8, Colombo); against Australia (February 11, Colombo), against Oman (February 14, Colombo), against Zimbabwe (February 17, Palekele)
Zimbabwe
Best score: Super 12s (2022)
2024 result: He didn’t qualify
How did they qualify in 2026? Passed through the African qualifiers
Head coach: Justin Sammons
Squad: Sikandar Raza (captain), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burle, Graham Cramer, Bradley Evans, Clive Madande, Tinoden Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Tagaraiva.
Players to watch: Skipper Sikandar Raza turns 40 in April, but remains a consistent performer. He will aim to support a strong SA20 with the ball for Paarl Royals, having picked up 15 wickets in 10 games.
Sikandar Raza of Zimbabwe is the heart of his side
Raza will also need a vital contribution with the bat, alongside a talented youngster Brian Bennettwho hit three fifties and a ton as Zimbabwe won all five of their matches in the African qualifiers to reach the tournament itself.
Bennett impressed against England in Test cricket last summer, with a knock of 139 at Trent Bridge.
First round matches: against Oman (February 9, Colombo); against Australia (February 13, Colombo); against Ireland (February 17, Palekele; against Sri Lanka (February 19, Colombo)
Sri Lanka
Best score: Champions (2014)
2024 result: Knocked out in the first round
How did they qualify in 2026? Co-host of the tournament
Head coach: Sanath Jayasuriya
Composition (temporary): Dasun Shanaka (captain), Pathum Nisanka, Kusal Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Dananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickvella, Janith Liianage, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Pavan Rathnaiake, Sahan Arachchige, Vanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Rahan Vellake, Dunith Rahana Tako Malinga, Dushmantha Chameera, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka, Maheesh Theekshana, Dusan Hemantha, Vijayakanth Vijayakanth, Traveen Mathev.
Pathum Nissanka is one of a number of striking testers from Sri Lanka
Players to watch: Sri Lanka have been unable to put together a complete game too often as they suffered defeat against England ahead of the World Cup, tasked with the likes of Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara to push further with the bat and not only contribute to the glittering 30s and 40s. Dealing with spin was a problem.
The bowling attack is dangerous with many bases covered including Vanindu Hasaranga’s turning the legs and Matheesha Pathirana’s crafty slower deliveries but a shoulder injury suffered by the seamer Eshan Malinga is a blow.
First round matches: against Ireland (February 8, Colombo); against Oman (February 12, Palekele), against Australia (February 16, Palekele), against Zimbabwe (February 19, Colombo)
Oman
Best score: First round (2016, 2021, 2024)
2024 result: Knocked out in the first round
How did they qualify in 2026? Through the Asia Pacific Regional Final
Head coach: Duleep Mendis
Squad: Jatinder Singh (captain), Vinayak Shukla, Mohammad Nadeem, Shakeel Ahmad, Hammad Mirza, Wasim Ali, Karan Sonawale, Faisal Shah, Nadeem Khan, Sufian Mehmood, Jai Odedra, Shafik Jan, Ashish Odedra, Jiten Kalamandi, Aamir.
Will 44-year-old Aamir Kaleem make an impact in Oman?
Players to watch: That’s what the 44-year-old does for the old guys Aamir Kaleemlate call after Hasnain Shah’s injury. The spin-bowling all-rounder showed he has a lot more to offer with his half-century against India in last year’s Asia Cup, and his experience could be key. captain Jatinder Singh36, is another wise head.
As for a younger player to watch, here we go Nadeem Khan24, whose 11 wickets helped Oman qualify. He also contributed 30 not out off 16 balls in the truncated win over UAE, so he has more than one string to his bow.
First round matches: against Zimbabwe (February 9, Colombo); vs. Sri Lanka (February 12, Palekele), vs. Ireland (February 14, Colombo), vs. Australia (February 20, Palekele)
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