In a shocking development that has rocked the cricketing world, the Oman national cricket team is facing a major crisis over unpaid prize money from the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup. Despite the tournament being hailed as one of the most financially successful in history, Omani players have reportedly not received their prize money—an amount totaling USD 225,000.
According to ICC regulations, participating national boards are required to distribute prize money within 21 days of the tournament’s conclusion. Oman, having finished in the 13th–20th position bracket, were eligible for the payout. However, multiple reports indicate that the players’ inquiries about the pending dues during the Canada Tri-Series and the Emerging Teams Asia Cup were either ignored or met with vague responses by the Oman Cricket Board.
Captain Kashyap Prajapati Leaves Oman for the USA
The crisis took a dramatic turn as Oman team captain Kashyap Prajapati reportedly fled to the United States, citing financial instability and lack of legal status in Oman after their cricket contracts were abruptly terminated. With their employment visas tied to those contracts, players were not only unpaid but also left without valid work permits, forcing many to leave the country.
“Our lives have been upended over this issue,” Prajapati told Cricinfo. “We’ve lost our spot in the team, our contracts have been torn up, and we have been forced to leave the country. It’s just so confusing and we don’t understand why the ICC isn’t able to ensure we get paid the prize money we have earned, and why there isn’t a safe space for us to raise concerns.”
Protest Suppressed, Squad Replaced
Omani players had reportedly considered boycotting the Emerging Teams Asia Cup as a form of protest, but the cricket board allegedly responded by sacking them. Only five members of the original T20 World Cup squad featured in Oman’s first Asia Cup match, with replacements hurriedly brought in to fill the void.
Broader Payment Issues Across Nations
This troubling situation in Oman appears to be part of a wider trend. The World Cricketers’ Association has revealed that five of the 20 teams participating in the 2024 T20 World Cup have yet to receive their full prize money, raising questions about accountability within the ICC’s distribution framework.
Oman’s Asia Cup Future In Doubt
Oman’s future participation in the 2025 Asia Cup now hangs in the balance. The team had created history earlier this year by finishing runners-up at the ACC Men’s Premier Cup, thereby earning qualification for their first-ever Asia Cup appearance. But with key players now missing and the core squad disbanded, Oman’s ability to field a competitive side for the tournament remains uncertain.
As the cricketing world watches closely, the focus now turns to the ICC and Oman Cricket Board for answers, accountability, and resolution.
