Almost a year after competing in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, Oman’s cricket players and their board are at odds over $2,25,000 in unpaid prize money. The prize pool for the competition, which took place in the USA and the Caribbean, broke all previous records, but not for the players from Oman.
The T20 World Cup was meant to be a pinnacle of the Kashyap Prajapati-led team’s tenure, when they would compete at the greatest level against nations like Australia and England. Even though Oman did not record a victory, its participation was a significant accomplishment for an Associate nation. But after being compelled to leave Oman due to a wage disagreement with the cricket board, Prajapati is currently in the US looking for job.
“This problem has completely changed our lives; we have been forced to leave the nation, our contracts have been ripped up, and we have lost our place in the team. It’s simply so perplexing, and we don’t understand why there isn’t a secure place for us to voice our concerns or why the ICC can’t make sure we receive the prize money we have earned.” ESPNcricinfo was informed by Prajapati.
Following the T20 World Cup, Omani cricket players claim they were intimidated and denied prize money.
The International Cricket Council, or ICC, has established a clear rule requiring member boards to disburse prize money to their teams within 21 days of the tournament’s conclusion. Oman qualified for the prize money since they placed between 13th and 20th. Although the ICC acknowledged that the money had been properly sent to Oman Cricket, the players did not receive any of it.
Both before the T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup, which was staged in Oman, and during a tri-series in Canada, the squad brought up a number of concerns. But each time their worries were disregarded. The board allegedly removed them from the squad in response to their threat to boycott the Emerging Teams event until they were given clarification and assurance. The players were instructed to vacate the team hotel after being informed that replacements were available.
The tournament opener against the United Arab Emirates featured just five players from the initial 15-man World Cup roster. Following the revocation of their employment visas related to their cricket contracts, some former squad members have departed the nation.
Five of the 20 teams competing in the 2024 T20 World Cup have not yet received their full prize monies, according to the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA). Players were bullied or mislead by their boards on multiple occasions. According to the WCA, several boards attempted to withhold or only partially pay prize money by taking advantage of players’ ignorance.
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