Oman Cricket to vie for two ICC Qualifier in Zimbabwe
Published: 05:06 PM,Jun 14,2023 | EDITED : 09:06 PM,Jun 14,2023
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MUSCAT:As the national team prepares for their biggest test ever, Khimji is filled with pride as he speaks about the team’s journey to the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier, which will be played in Zimbabwe from June 18-July 9.
Omani team face a challenging hurdle in their quest to make it to their first ICC Cricket World Cup later this year in India.
They along with nine other nations vie for the two available slots in Zimbabwe. Besides Oman, the other teams in Group B are World Cup winners Sri Lanka, Ireland, Scotland and the UAE. Group A comprises Zimbabwe, Netherlands, two-time winners West Indies, United States and Nepal.
He has seen the highs and lows of Oman Cricket over the past many decades. Taking over a legacy left by Late Kanak Khimji, first president of Oman Cricket, he has been the fulcrum around which the sport has grown in the Sultanate of Oman. Today, Pankaj Khimji, the president of Oman Cricket (OC), is one of the most respected administrators in world cricket.
Khimji said: “Today, it is a new Oman. It is no longer the squad of 2005 and 2009 (the previous occasions when Oman competed in the World Cup Qualifier) when the players faced totally a new ball game while playing abroad as we did not even have a turf pitch then.
“We are now a seasoned team and one of the most respected teams among the Associate nations. Since our maiden qualification for the 2016 T20 World Cup in 2015, our boys haven’t looked back. Today, there isn’t any team we haven’t defeated in the Associate world.”
Khimji, who is also the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) vice-president, said: “Our team is in good hands under Duleep Mendis.
The coaching staff of Avishkar Salvi [bowling coach] and Evert Laubscher [assistant coach] have worked hard with Duleep to get our boys ready for this important mission.
“We have got the blessings of our patron-in-chief, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik al Said, and the constant support of His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth. We successfully hosted the ICC T20 World Cup in 2021 and then the Legends Super League. We have some of the best facilities and turf ground among Associate nations and all these developments have kept cricket in focus. We now hope the boys will deliver at the big stage and complete a successful mission.”
Omani team face a challenging hurdle in their quest to make it to their first ICC Cricket World Cup later this year in India.
They along with nine other nations vie for the two available slots in Zimbabwe. Besides Oman, the other teams in Group B are World Cup winners Sri Lanka, Ireland, Scotland and the UAE. Group A comprises Zimbabwe, Netherlands, two-time winners West Indies, United States and Nepal.
He has seen the highs and lows of Oman Cricket over the past many decades. Taking over a legacy left by Late Kanak Khimji, first president of Oman Cricket, he has been the fulcrum around which the sport has grown in the Sultanate of Oman. Today, Pankaj Khimji, the president of Oman Cricket (OC), is one of the most respected administrators in world cricket.
Khimji said: “Today, it is a new Oman. It is no longer the squad of 2005 and 2009 (the previous occasions when Oman competed in the World Cup Qualifier) when the players faced totally a new ball game while playing abroad as we did not even have a turf pitch then.
“We are now a seasoned team and one of the most respected teams among the Associate nations. Since our maiden qualification for the 2016 T20 World Cup in 2015, our boys haven’t looked back. Today, there isn’t any team we haven’t defeated in the Associate world.”
Khimji, who is also the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) vice-president, said: “Our team is in good hands under Duleep Mendis.
The coaching staff of Avishkar Salvi [bowling coach] and Evert Laubscher [assistant coach] have worked hard with Duleep to get our boys ready for this important mission.
“We have got the blessings of our patron-in-chief, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik al Said, and the constant support of His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth. We successfully hosted the ICC T20 World Cup in 2021 and then the Legends Super League. We have some of the best facilities and turf ground among Associate nations and all these developments have kept cricket in focus. We now hope the boys will deliver at the big stage and complete a successful mission.”