Oman Cricketers Forced Out After Unpaid World Cup Prize Money Sparks Crisis

Just a year after representing Oman at the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean, top-order batter Kashyap Prajapati now finds himself in the United States, seeking a new life after being forced out of the national setup. His exit, along with nearly the entire squad from that tournament, stems from a bitter pay dispute with Oman Cricket over unpaid prize money amounting to US$ 225,000, allocated by the ICC for teams finishing between 13th and 20th. Despite the ICC confirming payment to Oman Cricket, the players have received nothing.

According to Prajapati and other former squad members, repeated attempts to resolve the issue with the board were met with resistance, culminating in threats of expulsion. When players threatened to boycott the Emerging Teams Asia Cup last October unless they were paid, Oman Cricket replaced almost the entire squad just before the tournament. Many of those players have since had their visas and contracts revoked, forcing them to leave the country.

The World Cricketers’ Association (WCA) has flagged Oman’s case as the most severe among multiple boards who have delayed or withheld ICC prize money from players. While the ICC has supported the players’ position, it lacks enforcement mechanisms to penalize non-compliant boards. The WCA has proposed deducting such amounts from ICC revenue distributions, though this remains unlikely under the current governance structure.

The incident has exposed deep flaws in the protections available to Associate players, who often lack unions or formal representation. “Our careers are over,” said former Oman pacer Fayyaz Butt, echoing the broader sense of disillusionment. “We were punished for asking what was rightfully ours.”

Despite a 2024 ICC-WCA agreement meant to protect player earnings across ten major events, delayed or missing payments remain an issue. As global cricket pushes for growth and retention of talent, the treatment of players like those from Oman raises urgent questions about accountability and fairness in the sport's governance.

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