ICC Men’s T20 WC 2026 | Match 16: Sri Lanka vs Oman | Preview and Predictions

Co-hosts Sri Lanka will take on a wounded Oman side in Match 16 of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on February 12, 2026. 

Here, we present our preview and predictions for the game.

ICC Men’s T20 WC 2026 Group B | Match 16: Sri Lanka vs Oman | 11:00 IST, February 12, 2026

The game against Ireland should be taken more as a warning side than just a rusty performance. Although Sri Lanka eventually won the game with a comfortable 20-run margin, Ireland made them sweat throughout the game. Add to that, the huge injury blow to their star man Wanindu Hasaranga, and the impending clarification on his medical reports, things aren’t looking rosy for the 2014 champions. 

In their opener, the Lankan batters were unable to get going with the Irish bowlers stifling the run flow from the get go. It took an unbeaten 44 off 17 balls from Kamindu Mendis to get them past the 160-mark as the rest of the top and middle-order batters struggled to impose themselves on the game. That said, Kusal Mendis anchored the innings really well with an unbeaten 56 off 43 deliveries. 

In the bowling department, Maheesh Theekshana provided the early breakthrough in the PowerPlay, however, the Irish began to threaten with the team needing just 60 runs off the last six overs with eight wickets in hand. In the end, 3-fers by the one-legged Hasaranga and Theekshana as well as some disciplined death bowling by Dushmantha Chameera and Matheesha Pathirana ensured Sri Lanka secured a 20-run victory on the night. 

As far as their opponents are concerned, Oman had a dreadful start to their 2026 T20 World Cup campaign. Having been asked to bat first by Zimbabwe, Oman lost half their side by the end of the seventh over with the scorecard reading 27-5. Some rearguard action from the likes of Vinayak Shukla, Sufyan Mehmood and Nadeem Khan helped them cross the 100-runs mark. But it was hardly ever going to be enough. 

In the bowling department, Faisal Shah and Sufyan Mehmood were the pick of the bowlers. Faisal troubled the openers with the new ball while Mehmood picked up two wickets in quick succession before the Zimbabwean batters took charge and finished off the game in the 14th over. 

In terms of weather forecast and pitch report, expect conditions to be clear initially before clouds set in in the afternoon with rain in some areas. The wicket here in Pallekele is not much different from any other Sri Lankan wicket, however, it is comparatively better from batters with the average first innings score in the last 10 innings sitting at 164. 

Looking ahead to this fixture, the hosts will come into this contest with some confidence behind them after beating a tricky Irish side. However, they’ll also be wary of the threat these associate nations carry. As for Oman, showing a bit more resilience both with bat and ball should be their target against a very tough Sri Lankan side. Thus, we’re backing the hosts to go two-in-two against a weak Oman side. 

Fantasy XI: Pathum Nissanka (c), Aamir Kaleem, Kusal Mendis (vc), Vinayak Shukla, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Sufyan Mehmood, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, Faisal Shah, Maheesh Theekshana  

Venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele 
Winners Prediction: Sri Lanka