Sunil Joshi appointed Oman spin-bowling coach

Former India left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi has been named Oman's spin-bowling coach ahead of the team's maiden World T20 appearance in India next year. Joshi will join head coach Duleep Mendis as part of Oman's support staff.

"It gives me an opportunity to work with an international team in such a big event," Joshi told the Hindu. Joshi said he and Mendis would share their collective experience of bowling and playing spin with Oman's players.

"I believe a coach should be able to demonstrate (in practice sessions) what he teaches," he said. "Duleep Mendis is the head coach and we can both relate a lot on how to play and bowl spin. Eventually it would help the team to be aware of the nuances of slow bowling."

Oman will begin their preparations from December 20 with a 10-day camp in Rajkot. They are grouped with Bangladesh, Ireland and Netherlands in the World T20 qualifying round, and will play their matches in Dharamsala. The winner of the group will advance to the Super 10 stage.

Oman's most recent international engagement was their tour to UAE in November, where they beat Hong Kong 2-1 in a three-match T20 series and lost both their matches against Afghanistan. They also lost a T20 match to UAE on that tour.

Oman's next high-profile assignment is the four-team Asia Cup T20 qualifier in Bangladesh, which also features Afghanistan, UAE and Hong Kong. One of the associate teams will advance to the main draw involving the region's four Full Member teams.