Oman's cricketers are in a distressing dispute with their cricket board concerning the unpaid prize money from the 2024 T20 World Cup, an amount totaling $225,000. The situation has reportedly led to significant upheaval in the players' lives, with some losing their places in the team, having their contracts terminated, and even being compelled to leave the country.
The heart of the issue lies in the Oman Cricket Board's failure to distribute the prize money awarded by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the team's performance in the tournament. Oman finished in the 13th to 20th position bracket, making them eligible for the designated funds. According to ICC guidelines, member boards are obligated to distribute the earned prize money to their respective teams within 21 days following the conclusion of any ICC tournament. The ICC has confirmed that the prize money was disbursed to Oman Cricket. However, those funds have not yet been transferred to the players.
The players initially raised concerns about the unpaid prize money during a tri-series held in Canada and reiterated their concerns prior to the T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup, which was hosted in Oman. Regrettably, their appeals were allegedly ignored by the board on both occasions. When the players threatened to boycott the Emerging Teams tournament in an attempt to gain clarity and assurance regarding the payment, the board allegedly responded by removing them from the squad. The players were reportedly informed that replacements were readily available and were instructed to vacate the team hotel. Consequently, only five players from the original 15-man World Cup squad participated in the tournament opener against the UAE.
Kashyap Prajapati, the captain, is currently seeking employment in the United States after being compelled to leave Oman. He voiced his frustration, stating, "Our lives have been upended over this issue; 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?"
The repercussions extend beyond just financial losses. Many former team members have since left the country after their employment visas, which were tied to their cricket contracts, were revoked. The situation has created mistrust and a lack of transparency between the board and its players, ultimately leading to a poor reputation for the governing body worldwide.
Oman is not an isolated case, as five of the twenty teams that participated in the 2024 T20 World Cup have allegedly not received their full prize payments, according to the World Cricketers' Association (WCA). This highlights a systemic issue within international cricket governance. In several cases, players were intimidated or misled by their boards.
The ICC's role in ensuring fair treatment and timely payments to players has come under scrutiny. While the ICC has disbursed the funds to the Oman Cricket Board, it appears unable to enforce the distribution of these funds to the players. This has prompted questions about the ICC's ability to protect the rights and livelihoods of cricketers, especially those from Associate nations. The big question remains—what steps is the ICC taking to address this injustice? The players await justice as many have lost their careers and livelihoods due to the mishandling of prize money by the Oman Cricket board.
