By Revatha S. Silva

The rapid emergence of Oman cricket

[caption id="attachment_140823" align="alignnone" width="462"] The only side with two wins from two, in the ICC World Cricket League Division 2 in Windhoek, Namibia. Oman defeated Canada by 99 runs, just 24 hours after beginning the tournament with victory over USA, in April 2019. The coach Duleep Mendis is joined for the celebration. After beating Namibia in the tournament, Oman was raised to much-anticipated ODI status[/caption]

* The Oman Cricket Board became an ICC Affiliate Member in 2000

* Oman’s first competitive matches came at the 2002 Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Trophy

* They have since participated in many ACC tournaments, finishing runner-up in the 2004 ACC Trophy and twice winning the ACC T20 Cup

* Oman had participated in the ICC World Cup Qualifier without qualifying for the final tournament, placing 9th at the 2005 ICC Trophy and 11th at the 2009 World Cup Qualifier

* Oman gained ICC Associate Membership in 2014

* In July 2015, Oman beat Namibia in the 2015 ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier and gained T20 International status

* They qualified for 2016 ICC World T20 in India, its first major international tournament

* In April 2018, the ICC decided to grant full T20I status to all its members

* Therefore, all T20 matches played between Oman and other ICC members after 1 January 2019 were to become full T20Is

* On 24 April 2019, Oman achieved ODI status for the first time until 2022 (for a three-year period)

* That was after they beat Namibia in 2019 ICC World Cricket League Division II tournament by four wickets

* It is reported that most cricket in Oman is played by expatriate Indians and Pakistanis, and their descendants, rather than by native Omanis

* Compared to other Associate nations, Oman has been incredibly consistent and has been the quickest team in terms of their rise to the top

* Just in 2016, Oman had been participating in Division 5, against small teams like Tanzania and Nigeria

* Being only an ICC Associate Member in 2014, Oman became an ODI and T20I nation in 2020, in barely six years, winning through all divisions

* Duleep Mendis is their Head Coach

Sri Lanka, former world champion country, pay millions of rupees to foreign coaches every month yet they have been reduced to a level where they are now needed to play even the qualifying rounds for the next T20 World Cup.

Yet, once a nonentity in world cricket, Oman, under the stewardship of former Sri Lanka Captain Duleep Mendis, is now eying a major breakthrough in the same competition, the 2021 T20 World Cup qualifier, coming up in October.

Ready to co host the World Cup

In addition to their quick rise in the playfield, Oman this week expressed their willingness to co hosts the World Cup this year. That is if the T20 World Cup this time is to be moved from its original hosting country India to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“Oman Cricket (OC) is ready to host matches if given an opportunity,” reported Shayan Acharya of the Sportstar in India on Wednesday (2), adding “the ICC (International Cricket Council) may look at Muscat (Oman’s capital) as one of the additional venues for the T20 World Cup if the tournament is moved out of India because of the ongoing pandemic”.

Oman CA ground as additional venue

“A final decision (on the World Cup venue) is expected later this month with the ICC giving the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) time till 28 June to confirm its ability to host the event in India,” the report added.

Oman Cricket, however, is reportedly keeping itself ready to host matches of the mega event at its newly refurbished Oman Cricket Academy Grounds.

“The BCCI as the host needs to take the call first whether they want to change the venue. The UAE can offer three venues (in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah) but if there is a requirement for four or five venues, they will have to look at the neighbourhood,” Oman Cricket chief Pankaj Khimji had told the Sportstar.

Duleep’s contribution

[caption id="attachment_140827" align="alignleft" width="463"] The Oman Cricket Academy (OCA) ground in Al Amerat[/caption]

Duleep Mendis does not need introduction here but it needs to be noted that he is one rare cricket personality in Sri Lanka who had held perhaps almost all main cricket-related positions in the island.

Mendis had been a national team wicket-keeper, explosive batsman, captain, coach, manager, selector, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operations Officer, as well as its chairman, for a brief, ad-hoc period.

Since 2012, Mendis has been contracted to coach Oman with his first assignment being the ACC Elite Trophy that year.

 “During the time I joined as Oman Head Coach, this ground (Oman Cricket Academy Ground) was without a blade of grass. Now it will match any ground in the world,” Mendis has said from Oman.

“We look forward to the World Cup qualifiers this year where we are to play Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea (PNG), and Ireland in the first round,” he said.

Sri Lanka need to qualify

Four teams for the 12-country World Cup in October-November are picked by these qualifiers played among eight nations, immediately before the tournament.

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are the two Test countries that are to participate in the qualifiers. Sri Lanka will be grouped along with PNG, Ireland, and Oman while Bangladesh are grouped with Namibia, Netherlands, and Scotland.

Only the top four out of the eight will join the already qualified eight countries in the main tournament, which is called Super 12s.

Three venues may not be enough

“Our grounds have ODI and T20 status. Last month, our ground also got Test status. So, our grounds are always ready,” Khimji, who has recently been appointed as the Vice President of the ACC, has told the Sportstar.

For a 16-team event, the three venues in UAE may not be enough. The ICC is planning to host a few games in Muscat, possibly during the qualifiers. The Gulf nation has previously hosted ICC fixtures, the report added.

The Oman Cricket Academy (OCA) ground in Al Amerat, 15 km southeast of the capital Muscat, has also recently been accredited to host Test matches, apart from ODIs and T20Is. However, it does not have permanent facilities for spectators.

Oman optimistic

[caption id="attachment_140851" align="alignleft" width="463"] Oman achieved ODI status in April 2019 when they beat Namibia in the ICC World Cricket League Division II tournament[/caption]

“Now, it is summer, so the grounds have been completely re-laid. Our season starts in September and the grounds will be in perfect shape. If we are given the opportunity, we will be delighted to host the matches.” Khimji has added further.

“We have fantastic infrastructure. Apart from the stadiums, our practice areas, pavilions; for the players, the experience will be as good as anywhere in the world.”

The Oman Cricket Board is optimistic about the team’s chances, said the above report. Meanwhile, with the best-paid overseas coaches in their midst, Sri Lanka, the 2014 World Champions in the format, has faced the ignominy of going through the qualifiers for the T20 World Cup this time.

Sri Lanka’s sad fate

Lankans might fail the test again and will be required to play in the qualifiers for the 2023 ODI World Cup as well, going by their standard in that format at present.

Then too, we would be left blaming each other, still finding fault with everyone for the downfall. The Arthurs, the Flowers, and the Moodys will still coach, and consult, and go - that too with those hefty amounts of dollars that they earn from this country through years.

No wonder our own leading former cricketers, who would have served the country better, are always compelled to help only other countries to prosper in the international arena. Sri Lanka will lose the war despite having home-made ammunition! Sad, to say the least.