Oman and United States of America cricket gained official ODI status after they won their respective matches against Namibia and Hong Kong on an eventful day in the ICC World Cricket League Division 2.

Oman defeated Namibia by four wickets and their status as ODI team was confirmed as Canada downed Papua New Guinea earlier in the day. Meanwhile, the USA gained their status as an ODI team after beating Hong Kong thanks to a century from Xavier Marshall, the former West Indies batsman.

Both Oman and USA join Scotland, Nepal and the UAE in League 2, where they will play 36 ODIs each over a two-and-a-half-year period on the road to Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. Oman captain Zeeshan Maqsood said: “It means a lot we have achieved ODI status and everyone is very happy. Everyone took responsibility and with the pressure of cricket they did their jobs, and that is the main reason we have won four out of four. Each team has come here looking for ODI status and place in League 2, and the players have managed to achieve this. So very thankful to the management and all of our supporters.”

USA Coach Pubudu Dassanayake said: “As a team we have worked really hard for the last two and half years and we have targeted this tournament. The boys are feeling great, it is a big achievement as the USA have never been to this level before and we are very happy to be in (ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup) League 2. Moving forward playing competitive ODI cricket for the next 2 and half years is another level, bringing the team to this will require more hard work. We are going to press hard in the next game, we want to win the tournament and be the best team leaving Namibia.”

(inputs from icc-cricket.com)