Muscat: With world-class facilities drawing praise from visiting teams, Oman Cricket plans three additional grounds in Al Amerat, signalling a new era of growth and international event hosting for the Sultanate. Oman Cricket (OC) Chairman Pankaj Khimji recently unveiled plans for a sweeping expansion of the Oman Cricket Academy in Al Amerat.
The announcement comes as the Sultanate gears up to host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific (EAP) Qualifier 2025, which begins on October 8, Wednesday, and features nine nations, including hosts Oman. Three teams will qualify for the World Cup to be played in India and Sri Lanka early next year.
The new facilities will significantly enhance Oman’s ability to host international events and nurture local talent, underlining the country’s emergence as one of the fastest-growing cricketing Associate nations in the world.
“We are very privileged and thankful to the ICC for giving us the opportunity to host another major event,” said Khimji, as he reviewed preparations for the hosting of the World Cup qualifier.
“Oman has developed world-class cricket infrastructure over the years — built with a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, and with immense support from the government and private sector. We are now enjoying the fruits of that effort, but the next phase is about scaling up.”
Three new grounds
Khimji revealed that Oman Cricket has secured land across the road from the current academy complex in Al Amerat to build three new grounds. The first of these — referred to as the “third ground” — is expected to be completed by the end of next year, with the others to follow in phases under a comprehensive master development plan.
“We are working on a detailed master plan that includes three new turf grounds,” Khimji said. “The immediate focus is on the third ground, which we aim to complete by next year. The additional facilities will give us more resources to host bigger and better international tournaments in the years ahead.”
The expansion builds on Oman Cricket’s reputation for excellence. Since hosting matches during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, the Al Amerat venue has drawn widespread praise from international teams and officials for its top-tier facilities, immaculate pitches, and hospitality.
“Teams that visit Oman often tell us our grounds and infrastructure are on par with full-member nations,” Khimji added. “That’s a tremendous compliment and a motivation for us to keep improving.”
Momentum beyond the boundary
While the expansion marks a major milestone in Oman’s cricketing journey, Khimji and his team remain equally focused on the national squad’s on-field growth.
“Our objective has always been cricket, cricket, cricket,” said Alkesh Joshi, OC Treasurer. “We’re less focused on commercialisation and more on building a strong, competitive team.”
Joshi, who served as team manager during the recent Asia Cup, said the players’ strong showing against India in that tournament gave them a huge confidence boost.
“The boys played phenomenal cricket against India, and that performance gave them belief,” he said. “If they can compete at that level, they can certainly excel at the Associate level.”
Joshi credited the team’s improved fitness, agility, and fielding to new additions in the support staff — including strength and conditioning coach Shiva and physiotherapist Dr. Ashish.
“You can see the difference on the field,” he said. “The players are fitter, more alert, and more disciplined. The approach to fitness and fielding has improved.”
Looking at the upcoming World Cup Qualifier Joshi said that “the team hopes to make it to the ICC T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next year for the fourth time.
Oman is the only associate nation from Asia to have played in three T20I World Cups (2016, 2021 and 2024) and we hope to make it two in a row by qualifying at home this time,” Joshi said. “That’s something we’re incredibly proud of, and we want to build on that legacy.”
“There’s no pressure, only pride,” Joshi said. “Playing at home is an advantage — and an opportunity to show the cricketing world what Oman can deliver, both on and off the field.”
With three new turf grounds on the horizon and international tournaments lining up, the Sultanate’s “Cricketing Renaissance 2.0” in the words of OC chairman Khimji shows no signs of slowing down.