(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Oman's forthcoming tour of Namibia assumes great significance as a top-two finish will provide a chance to compete for a spot in the 2019 World Cup.
With the stakes so high, Oman Cricket (OC) had bolstered its coaching team by hiring two specialist coaches - Ruwan Kalpage, a former Sri Lankan Test player, and Anusha Samaranayake, a former Sri Lankan first-class cricketer, to assist head coach Duleep Mendis, a former Sri Lanka Test captain.
Tasked with improving the team's fielding, Kalpage is also mentoring the spinners while Samaranayake is honing the skills of the fast bowlers.
OC has had sought the services of Kalpage in the past also to sharpen the skills of Oman players.
'The skill level of our boys is good. We are focusing on the planning part. We see a big difference in the awareness level of their strengths and weaknesses and how the players prepare for a game. Our inputs to
Nandisha, the team analyst, will go a long way in our preparations,' said Kalpage.
'When you are in a semi-professional environment, work and play compete for your time. Fitness is a key issue and we are focusing on the agility factor in our fielding drills and we expect good results,' he said.
Kalpage said that Oman had a 'limited bench strength' and 'can't afford to lose its key players due to injury or fitness concerns'.
He said, 'Our boys have good skills, we just have to polish them.'
Samaranayake said Oman had good quality pacers. 'I believe our fast bowlers can still improve and perform better in match situations,' he said.
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