MUSCAT: Oman Cricket (OC) has confirmed that the prize money awarded by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the team’s participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be disbursed by July.
The board reiterated that the delay in disbursement of $225,000 was procedural, dependent on formal post-event clarifications from the ICC, which are typically received after global tournaments.
At the centre of the controversy lies a highly unusual and deeply concerning episode in October 2024, when 11 senior players, including then captain Aqib Ilyas and ex-skipper Zeeshan Maqsood, withdrew from national duty hours before Oman’s campaign at the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup, which was held in Muscat.
While concerns over the delayed prize money had been raised, Oman Cricket officials, including OC Chairman Pankaj Khimji, had repeatedly assured the players that payments would be made in full following the ICC’s confirmation of the allocation and structure.
Despite these reassurances, the players escalated the situation and refused to play, putting Oman’s international commitment at serious risk.
“But to walk out at the last moment — just hours before representing the nation — was not only irresponsible, but it was also an insult to the entire team, the coaching staff, the board, and most importantly, the nation they were supposed to serve.”
Following the walkout, the OC Board met twice in emergency sessions and unanimously resolved to terminate the central contracts of the 11 players and bar them from all national and domestic cricket until further notice. The suspended players were Aqib Ilyas, Zeeshan Maqsood, Ayaan Khan, Kashyap Prajapati, Shoaib Khan, Ahmed Fayyaz Butt, Pratik Athavale, Kaleemullah, Rafiullah, Naseem Khushi, and Khalid Kail.
The board described the episode as a coordinated walkout that amounted to ‘blackmail’, an act of pressure unbecoming of national representatives.
“It is evident that the players were heavily influenced and misled by external voices — particularly the WCA — which encouraged them to abandon their duties under the guise of advocacy. What happened was not protest, but provocation,” Khimji said.
In the wake of the withdrawals, a new squad was swiftly assembled under the leadership of experienced batter Jatinder Singh.
Under Jatinder’s captaincy, Oman have won 9 out of 11 matches in the ongoing ICC World Cup League 2, showcasing both resilience and emerging talent. The performance has helped restore belief in the team and underlined the depth of cricketing potential in Oman. OC Treasurer Alkesh Joshi said: “The response of the new squad has been nothing short of inspirational. They’ve played with heart, discipline, and a sense of responsibility — everything the national jersey should represent. It is a shame that the barred players came under the influence of certain people and organisations and threatened the sanctity of the game.”
To avoid future lapses, Oman Cricket has constituted a special internal committee to recommend a more robust, transparent structure for tournament-based remunerations and player engagement ahead.
Khimji said that over the years, the players have been the largest beneficiaries of Oman Cricket’s growth, with a sizeable percentage of ICC grants spent on their development.
“As an Associate nation, we have been at the forefront — not only in building world-class infrastructure — but also in treating our players like family. They have never been treated unfairly. This incident has been deeply unfortunate. Our doors are open to talent, but closed to indiscipline,” said the chairman.
“We will continue to support our players and honour their efforts — but we expect them, in turn, to honour the nation and the badge they wear.”
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