ICC chief Jay Shah backs Oman Cricket’s infrastructure growth

MUSCAT: ICC Chairman Jay Shah has praised Oman Cricket’s progress and backed further investment in infrastructure, saying the Sultanate has the potential to host more international cricket.Shah, during his private visit to Oman, made time to visit the Oman Cricket (OC) headquarters on Thursday, where he was briefed by OC President Pankaj Khimji, Vice-President Paul Sheridan, Treasurer Alkesh Joshi, Secretary Madhu Jesrani, board officials including Syed Anwar, Chaitanya Khimji, Damodar Katti, and chief development officer Duleep Mendis, on the organisation’s development plans.He toured the facilities and met the all-Omani national squad preparing for the Asian Games, as well as the under-19 boys, women’s and under-19 girls’ teams. He later held discussions with the OC board on the development of cricket in Oman and opportunities to host international and regional cricket. Shah recalled Oman Cricket’s contribution during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Oman and the UAE stepped in to host matches in 2021 after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup was moved from India.“Oman did a fantastic job,” Shah said, praising the country’s infrastructure and its ability to stage international cricket at short notice.He said the next step was to strengthen Oman’s permanent infrastructure, particularly if the country is to host more major international fixtures.“Right now, the infrastructure is very good, but if you want to host international games, you need some permanent infrastructure also,” he said.Shah indicated that the ICC could explore ways to support Oman’s infrastructure plans and expressed confidence that permanent facilities, including spectator stands, would be developed.The possibility of Oman hosting more bilateral cricket was also discussed. Shah pointed to an upcoming Future Tours Programme (FTP) bilateral workshop in Dubai later this month, where member boards can explore potential fixtures.While bilateral series remain primarily a matter between individual boards, Shah said the ICC could assist where required.He also identified opportunities for Oman to host training camps for teams from the Gulf, noting that the country has developed strong infrastructure and can provide a suitable environment for both senior and junior players.Shah was encouraged by Oman Cricket’s financial position after Khimji informed him that the board is debt-free.“For Oman today, funding is not a problem,” Shah said, stressing that commitment and hard work on the field remain crucial to the game’s development.The ICC chairman also highlighted the progress of women’s cricket in Oman and noted the significant improvement in the national team’s ranking.“Women’s cricket is very close to my heart,” Shah said, reiterating his support for greater opportunities for women players. He also recalled initiatives during his tenure at the BCCI to strengthen recognition and financial support for women’s cricket, including the introduction of pay parity.Shah welcomed cricket’s growing presence in multi-sport events, particularly the Asian Games and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.With cricket returning to the Olympic programme, Shah said both the ICC and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) were excited about the sport’s future on the global multi-sport stage.Senior board official Alkesh Joshi termed the visit of ICC supremo Jay Shah as "historic" and said that Oman Cricket was honoured by the visit."The visit of Shah demonstrates the commitment of ICC towards the game's development of Associate nations," said Joshi.He added that the ICC chief was "impressed by the growth of the game among local Omanis" and congratulated the all-Omani team that will make their historic debut at the forthcoming Asian Games in Japan.The senior OC functionary said: "Our development programme with women’s cricket and the huge jump in rankings was applauded by Shah and we are determined to make further progress in raising the level of women’s cricket."For Oman Cricket, Shah’s visit provided a significant endorsement of its progress and future plans, with discussions focusing on strengthening infrastructure, expanding international cricket and creating more pathways for players at senior and junior levels.