COLOMBO : Cyclone ‘Shaheen’ which has been lashing the Gulf on Sunday Oct,3, has affected the Sri Lankan cricket team going to Oman. The SriLankan Airlines suspended delayed its flight to Muscat due to inclement weather.
Sri Lanka National Men’s T20 team was to leave for Oman on the October 3,to take part in two T20 games vs Oman, ahead of its participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, which will be played in UAE and Oman from 17th October to 14th November, 2021.
The two games to be played on the 07th and 09th October will provide the Sri Lanka team more preparation ground for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Following the two games against Oman, Sri Lanka will play in two ICC-organized World Cup warm-up games, on the 12th and 14th October 2021, before commencing its T20 World Cup Campaign.
“We are looking to play many games as possible leading into the World Cup in similar conditions the team will experience in the UAE. The games against Oman and the 2 ICC practice games will allow us this opportunity,” said Mr. Ashley de Silva, CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket
Sri Lanka will start its T20 World Cup campaign, playing against Namibia, on the 18th October 2021, at the Sheika Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, and will play Ireland on the same venue on the 20th October.
The game against the Netherlands will be played on the 22nd of October at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Tropical Cyclone Shaheen hit land in Oman on Sunday having already killed least three people, its high winds prompting evacuations from coastal areas and delaying flights to and from the capital, Muscat, news agency Reuters reported.
A child who had been swept away by water was found dead, the state news agency said, and another person was missing. Two Asian workers were killed when a hill collapsed on their housing area in an industrial zone, the state news agency reported.
The storm was carrying winds of 120 kph (75 mph) and throwing up waves of up to 10 metres (32 feet), Omani authorities said. Video footage from local broadcasters showed vehicles submerged as people tried to make their way through muddy brown floodwater.
Part of the eyewall of the storm, where the most severe weather occurs, had entered Al Batinah South governorate, the state news agency said. The centre of the storm was expected to cross between Al Musanaa and Al Suwaiq in the evening.(inputs from Indian Express)
