Oman to disburse payment to its players following ICC clarifications

Oman Cricket (OC) has said the prize money due to its players will be disbursed soon as per the International Cricket Council (ICC) guidelines. An amount of USD 225,000 is due to the players for the team's participation in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. The decision was taken by the OC Board after several emergency meetings convened over the last eight months.

"The board reiterated that the delay in disbursement was procedural, dependent on formal post-event clarifications from the ICC, which are typically received after global tournaments," the OC said in a statement on Monday (June 23).

At the centre of the issue is the walkout of 11 senior players, including then captain Aqib Ilyas and former skipper Zeeshan Maqsood, in October 2024. The players withdrew from national duty hours before Oman's campaign at the ACC Men's T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup, which was being hosted by Oman.

The OC said 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 group of players escalated the situation and refused to play, putting Oman's international commitment at serious risk," the OC said.

Pankaj Khimji, the OC Chair added, "The players had every right to seek clarity, and we were transparent about the timelines involved. 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."

Board takes disciplinary action

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 decision was in line with the players' contractual obligations, which the board emphasised the players had clearly breached.

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.

Khimji reiterated that this was not a routine disciplinary matter but a serious act of disruption that almost compromised Oman's participation in a major tournament. The board described the episode as a coordinated walkout that amounted to 'blackmail', an act of pressure unbecoming of national representatives.

The OC chairman also strongly criticised the involvement of the World Cricketers' Association (WCA), accusing it of orchestrating unrest within the squad at a critical time. "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.

"The WCA played an active role in sowing distrust and destabilising the team environment. The players were urged to take a drastic and unjustified stance, despite having my personal assurance that the prize money would be paid in full - regardless of whether they played the Emerging Cup or not. Such interference is unacceptable, and we cannot allow outside entities to manipulate our national team cricketers."

New leadership, new momentum

Following the withdrawals, a new squad was assembled under Jatinder Singh. The revamped team regrouped and Oman have won nine out of 11 matches in the ongoing ICC World Cup League 2.

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."

OC has, meanwhile, constituted a special internal committee to investigate the communication gap around the prize money and 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 sizable 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," added the Oman Cricket president. 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."