🌍 T20 WC
ZIM Zimbabwe
78%
VS
OMN Oman
22%
Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo
ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026
Zimbabwe vs Oman Match Prediction
Last updated: 6 February 2026
Strong Edge Model tips Zimbabwe at 78% (fair odds 1.28)
Prediction: Zimbabwe (78%)
Analysis by CricketPrediction.com ·
🏏 Prediction Summary
Based on our comprehensive analysis of recent form, individual player statistics, and team strengths, we predict **Zimbabwe to win** this encounter. Our confidence in this outcome stands at approximately 68%. For those seeking a value bet, we recommend to **Back Oman if odds above 3.00**.Zimbabwe Preview
Zimbabwe enters this contest with a respectable overall T20I record since January 2024, having played 48 matches, winning 24 and losing 22, which translates to a win percentage of 50%. Their recent form, however, has been a mixed bag, showing losses against formidable opponents like Sri Lanka (2025-11-25) and Pakistan (2025-11-23, 2025-11-18), interspersed with crucial wins against Sri Lanka (2025-11-20) and Namibia (2025-10-04). This suggests a team that can compete with top-tier nations but might struggle for consistent victories at the highest level. Their batting lineup is anchored by some prolific run-scorers. BJ Bennett leads the charge with an impressive 1466 runs from 46 innings at a formidable strike rate of 145.15, indicating his ability to dominate attacks. Sikandar Raza, a crucial all-rounder, has contributed significantly with 970 runs in 42 innings at a strike rate of 133.43, demonstrating his consistent hitting power. T Marumani adds further firepower, amassing 952 runs in 38 innings with a strike rate of 129.52. The middle order benefits from the contributions of RP Burl, who has scored 686 runs in 33 innings at a strike rate of 134.77, and C Madande, with 417 runs in 24 innings at a strike rate of 117.46. This collective batting strength suggests Zimbabwe possesses the capability to post competitive totals. With the ball, Zimbabwe boasts a diverse attack. R Ngarava is their leading wicket-taker, claiming 46 wickets in 36 innings, though his economy rate stands at 7.5. Sikandar Raza once again proves his all-round value, picking up 42 wickets in 40 innings at an excellent economy rate of 6.73, making him a vital asset in both departments. B Muzarabani provides a genuine pace threat, with 38 wickets in 34 innings at an economy of 7.12. The bowling unit is further bolstered by B Evans, who has 25 wickets from just 14 innings at an economy of 7.93, showcasing his wicket-taking ability despite a slightly higher economy. T Gwandu has chipped in with 15 wickets in 16 innings at an economy of 8.02. This blend of pace and spin, coupled with Raza's all-round prowess, offers Zimbabwe multiple options to penetrate opposition batting lineups.Oman Preview
Oman enters this fixture with a slightly less dominant T20I record since January 2024, having played 44 matches, securing 20 wins and suffering 23 losses, resulting in a win percentage of 45%. Their recent form, however, has been commendable, particularly against specific opposition. They registered wins against United Arab Emirates (2025-11-16, 2025-10-13), Japan (2025-10-17), and Qatar (2025-10-12), with their only recent loss coming against Nepal (2025-10-15). This suggests a team that can perform strongly against regional rivals and build momentum. Oman’s batting unit is led by Jatinder Singh, who has accumulated 527 runs in 22 innings at a strike rate of 126.38, providing a solid foundation. Aqib Ilyas, another crucial all-rounder for Oman, has scored 525 runs in 21 innings, albeit at a more measured strike rate of 112.42. Hammad Mirza has contributed 401 runs in 22 innings at a strike rate of 105.25. The explosive potential lies with V Shukla, who has scored 358 runs in just 17 innings at an impressive strike rate of 140.94, making him a dangerous proposition in the middle order. Aamir Kaleem adds depth with 340 runs in 20 innings at a strike rate of 112.21. While their run volumes are generally lower than Zimbabwe's top batters, the presence of Shukla offers a significant acceleration option. In the bowling department, Aqib Ilyas is Oman's standout performer, not only contributing with the bat but also leading the wicket-taking charts with 30 wickets in 20 innings at an exceptional economy rate of 6.11. This makes him a vital cog in Oman's strategy, capable of both picking up wickets and containing runs. Shakeel Ahmed has been a consistent wicket-taker, with 26 wickets in 34 innings at an economy of 6.72. Mehran Khan has chipped in with 20 wickets in 16 innings at an economy of 7.5. Bilal Khan and Fayyaz Butt have both secured 18 wickets, with Bilal doing so in 15 innings at an economy of 8.58, and Fayyaz in 14 innings at an economy of 8.34. Oman's bowling attack, particularly with Ilyas's economy, aims to restrict opposition scoring.Key Players to Watch
From Zimbabwe, we will be closely watching: * **BJ Bennett:** His record of 1466 runs in 46 innings at a strike rate of 145.15 makes him Zimbabwe's most prolific and explosive batter. His ability to set the tone or accelerate an innings will be crucial. * **Sikandar Raza:** The quintessential all-rounder, Raza's contribution of 970 runs in 42 innings (SR 133.43) and 42 wickets in 40 innings (econ 6.73) makes him an indispensable asset for Zimbabwe. His performance will heavily influence the match outcome. * **R Ngarava:** With 46 wickets in 36 innings, Ngarava is Zimbabwe's primary wicket-taking threat. His ability to break partnerships will be key to restricting Oman's scoring. For Oman, our attention will be on: * **Aqib Ilyas:** Oman's star all-rounder, Ilyas has scored 525 runs in 21 innings and taken 30 wickets in 20 innings at an excellent economy of 6.11. His multi-faceted contributions are vital for Oman's chances. * **Jatinder Singh:** As Oman's leading run-scorer with 527 runs in 22 innings at a strike rate of 126.38, Singh's role at the top of the order will be critical in providing a strong start. * **V Shukla:** With a strike rate of 140.94 from 358 runs in 17 innings, Shukla possesses the ability to inject momentum into the innings, making him a crucial player for late-innings acceleration.Head-to-Head Record
Our records indicate that there have been no previous T20I meetings between Zimbabwe and Oman. This upcoming match will mark their inaugural T20I encounter, meaning historical head-to-head statistics offer no direct insight into this particular contest. Both teams will be entering uncharted territory against each other, making current form and individual player prowess even more critical in determining the outcome.Venue, Conditions & Toss
The match is scheduled to take place at the Sinhalese Sports Club. Unfortunately, we have limited T20I data available specifically for this venue. This lack of extensive historical T20I performance data means we cannot make definitive predictions regarding typical pitch behaviour, average scores, or toss advantages. Without specific information on how the pitch usually plays for T20Is – whether it's a batting paradise, offers assistance to spinners, or favours fast bowlers – any commentary on ideal conditions or toss strategy would be speculative. Teams will likely need to assess the pitch conditions on the day and adapt their strategies accordingly, with the captain winning the toss making a decision based on the immediate visual assessment and team strengths.Match Analysis
Our analysis points to several key factors that will likely shape the outcome of this encounter: 1. **Overall Team Strength and Recent Form:** Zimbabwe, with a 50% win rate from 48 matches, holds a slight edge over Oman's 45% win rate from 44 matches since January 2024. While Oman has enjoyed a strong recent run of wins against specific regional opponents, Zimbabwe's recent schedule has included matches against higher-ranked teams like Sri Lanka and Pakistan, providing them with experience against stronger opposition, even in defeat. This exposure to tougher competition could be a subtle advantage. 2. **Batting Firepower and Depth:** Zimbabwe appears to possess a more formidable batting lineup, particularly in terms of sheer volume of runs and consistent high strike rates from their top order. BJ Bennett's 1466 runs at a strike rate of 145.15, coupled with Sikandar Raza's 970 runs at 133.43 and T Marumani's 952 runs at 129.52, highlight a top order capable of setting or chasing substantial targets. While Oman has V Shukla with an impressive strike rate of 140.94, the overall run accumulation and high strike rates are more concentrated within Zimbabwe's top four batters. 3. **Impact of All-rounders:** The presence of a world-class all-rounder like Sikandar Raza is a significant advantage for Zimbabwe. His combined contribution of 970 runs and 42 wickets, with an excellent economy rate of 6.73, offers unparalleled balance to the team. Oman's Aqib Ilyas is also a crucial all-rounder, with 525 runs and 30 wickets at an exceptional economy of 6.11. While Ilyas's bowling economy is superior, Raza's higher run volume and comparable wicket-taking ability, combined with his experience against top teams, potentially give Zimbabwe an edge in this crucial department. 4. **Wicket-taking Ability vs. Economy in Bowling:** Zimbabwe's bowling attack features more prominent wicket-takers in R Ngarava (46 wickets) and B Muzarabani (38 wickets), alongside Raza's 42 wickets. This provides a diverse array of options to break partnerships. Oman's bowling, while featuring the economical Aqib Ilyas (econ 6.11), relies on Shakeel Ahmed (26 wickets), Mehran Khan (20 wickets), Bilal Khan (18 wickets), and Fayyaz Butt (18 wickets) for breakthroughs. The sheer volume of wickets taken by Zimbabwe's key bowlers suggests a slightly more potent wicket-taking attack, which can be critical in T20 cricket.Our Verdict
Considering the statistical evidence and our detailed match analysis, we lean towards **Zimbabwe** emerging victorious in this encounter. Their slightly superior overall win percentage since January 2024, combined with a more potent batting lineup featuring higher run volumes and strike rates from key players like BJ Bennett and Sikandar Raza, gives them a notable advantage. Furthermore, the all-round brilliance of Sikandar Raza, who consistently performs with both bat and ball against varied opposition, provides Zimbabwe with a significant edge in crucial moments. While Oman has shown commendable recent form against specific teams and boasts an excellent all-rounder in Aqib Ilyas, we believe Zimbabwe's greater depth in both batting and bowling, alongside their experience playing against higher-ranked teams, will ultimately prove decisive.Odds Analysis
The current live odds from 33 bookmakers place Zimbabwe as strong favorites, with a best odd of 1.3 and an average of 1.26. Oman is priced at a best of 4.0 and an average of 3.45. An odd of 1.3 implies an approximate winning probability of 76.9% for Zimbabwe. Our analysis, which suggests a Zimbabwe win with approximately 68% confidence, indicates that the current odds for Zimbabwe might be slightly shorter than what we perceive as true value. Conversely, if Zimbabwe has a 68% chance, Oman would theoretically have a 32% chance of winning (100% - 68%). A 32% probability translates to implied odds of approximately 3.12 (1 / 0.32). Given that the best available odds for Oman are 4.0, this presents a potential value opportunity. Therefore, we recommend to **Back Oman if odds above 3.00**. This threshold offers a favorable return should Oman manage to upset the favourites, reflecting a better alignment with our assessed probability for them.FAQ
Q: Who are the top batters for Zimbabwe in recent form?
A: Based on recent data since January 2024, Zimbabwe's top batters are BJ Bennett with 1466 runs in 46 innings at a strike rate of 145.15, Sikandar Raza with 970 runs in 42 innings at a strike rate of 133.43, and T Marumani with 952 runs in 38 innings at a strike rate of 129.52.
Q: Which players are key bowlers for Oman?
A: Oman's key bowlers include Aqib Ilyas, who has taken 30 wickets in 20 innings with an economy of 6.11, and Shakeel Ahmed, with 26 wickets in 34 innings at an economy of 6.72.
Q: What is Zimbabwe's recent T20I form?
A: Zimbabwe's recent T20I results since October 2025 show a mixed bag: L vs Sri Lanka (2025-11-25), L vs Pakistan (2025-11-23), W vs Sri Lanka (2025-11-20), L vs Pakistan (2025-11-18), and W vs Namibia (2025-10-04).
Q: Have Zimbabwe and Oman played each other in T20Is before?
A: No, our records indicate that there have been no previous T20I meetings between Zimbabwe and Oman. This match will be their first T20I encounter.
