Oman Cricket Pledges to Distribute Delayed T20 World Cup Prize Money

Oman Cricket (OC) has committed to paying the long-awaited prize money to its men’s T20 World Cup 2024 team, almost a year following the competition held in the USA and the Caribbean.

In a formal declaration issued this Monday, the board stated that USD 225,000 will be disbursed to the players and supporting staff by July 2025.

The delay, which caused considerable criticism, was blamed by OC on “procedural” matters. The board mentioned that the payment was subject to clarifications from the ICC following the event, which are typically received after major global tournaments conclude.

Reports earlier in the month revealed that Omani players had not received their portion of the prize money, despite ICC regulations requiring boards to distribute these funds within 21 days of receipt.

The ICC has verified that it remitted the funds to OC in a timely manner.

Player discontent surfaced shortly after the World Cup and intensified during the Emerging Teams Asia Cup in October 2024.

Players threatened to boycott the tournament, leading Oman Cricket to suspend the central contracts of 11 members of the 15-man squad and instruct them to leave the country.

Given that employment in Oman is linked to residency, several players were subsequently compelled to depart the country after losing their positions.

OC acknowledged that players had voiced concerns but said assurances were provided by senior officials, including chairman Pankaj Khimji, that payments would be fully made. Nevertheless, players indicated that the board’s repeated postponements undermined confidence in its assurances.

The board expressed disapproval of the players’ choice to escalate the issue, asserting that their refusal to participate jeopardized Oman’s international obligations.

“The players were completely justified in seeking clarification, and we maintained transparency regarding the timelines,” Khimji stated.

After discovering analogous cases involving Canadian and Nepalese cricketers, the players sought assistance from the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA).

Khimji accused the WCA of “misleading” the players and encouraging them to forsake their responsibilities under the guise of advocacy.

In response, WCA CEO Tom Moffat commented: “We are happy to note that Oman Cricket has established a deadline for paying the players the prize money nearly a year after obtaining the funds from the ICC, and nearly a year after it should have been paid to the players according to ICC participation terms.

“Every player globally deserves a secure environment to express concerns and defend themselves. It’s truly disheartening that most of Oman’s men’s World Cup team have forfeited their careers and employment, and were consequently forced to leave the country for doing so. WCA will consistently support players who seek assistance, particularly those who are vulnerable or encounter exceedingly unequal and detrimental power dynamics.”

Oman Cricket has since established an internal committee to investigate the communication breakdown and has promised to implement more robust systems moving forward.

“This was an isolated occurrence, yet it highlighted the necessity for stronger systems,” stated board treasurer Alkesh Joshi. “We will guarantee that players are never left in doubt regarding their entitlements but also that professional commitments are never undermined.”