Mehta retained as Oman captain for WCQs

Tony Munro:

Hemal Mehta, has been retained as Oman captain for the ICC World Cup Qualifers in South Africa in April. The Indian-born allrounder, who bowls slow left arm orthodox, successfully led Oman during their unbeaten run to the ACC Trophy Challenge title in Chiang Mai, Thailand last month, albeit against mediocre opposition.

Oman will field 11 of the squad which qualified for the tournament by finishing second in the World Cricket League Division 2 tournament in November-December 2007.

A notable absentee from the squad for next month is Hemin Desai, who opened the batting and bowling. Desai has left the country and did not play for Oman in the ACC Trophy Challenge.

Oman are in Group A and play their first match against Canada on April 1. Ireland, Namibia, Scotland and Uganda are the other teams in the group.

Squad: Hemal Mehta (capt), Sultan Ahmed (wk & vice-capt), Ameet Sampat, Rafeeq Mohammed Siyad Al Balushi , Adnan Ilyas Sulheri, Nileshkumar Parmar, Vaibhav Wayegaonkar, Syed Maqsood Hussain, Syed Amir Ali, Awal Khan, Farhan Khan, Haider Ali, Khalid Rasheed, Syed Tariq Hussain and Zeeshan Ahmad Siddiqui; Mazhar Khan (coach).