The domestic giants Mumbai are likely to tour Muscat later this month to play a limited-overs series against Oman. The series will comprise six matches – three ODIs and three T20Is. An invitation was sent to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) by Oman’s Chief Development Officer, Duleep Mendis.
Oman has qualified for the T20 World Cup, which will take place from October 17. Earlier the BCCI requested to shift the tournament to the United Arab Emirates owing to rising covid cases in India. Muscat will host the qualification stage of the tournament before it moves to UAE. The matches against Mumbai will serve as preparation for the Oman players ahead of the marquee event.
‘On behalf of Oman Cricket, we would like to invite the Mumbai Cricket team to play matches against Oman’s national cricket team. As we understand that both teams are currently preparing for the upcoming season, it will be an excellent opportunity for the players to get some quality practice just before the commencement of the season,” states the letter sent by Mendis, as reported by the ANI.
A source within the MCA said to ANI, “We have been invited for the tour between August 19-September 3. The details of the tour to Oman are still being worked out.”
Tour Itinerary
As per the proposed tour itinerary, the Mumbai team will leave for Muscat on August 19 and will undergo quarantine for a day. They will start training on August 21.
The limited overs series will kickstart on August 22 with the first T20, followed by the next two T20s on August 24 and August 26. The three one-dayers will take place on August 29, August 31, and September 2. The Mumbai team will then return home on September 3.