MUMBAI: With both the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the BCCI looking at Muscat as one of the additional venues for the T20 World Cup if the tournament is moved out of India because of the pandemic, Oman has made it clear that it is ready to host the global event, if given an opportunity.
A final decision on whether the event can be held in India or will have to be shifted to the UAE is expected later this month with the ICC agreeing to give the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) time till June 28 to decide on the issue.
“The BCCI and the ICC need to take a call first on this issue.
We would be delighted to be a potential venue for it,” Oman Cricket Chief Board (OCB) president Pankaj Khimji told TOI on Friday.
He claimed that Oman had the infrastructure to host matches of the T20 World Cup.
“Our facilities have the approval of the ICC to stage T20Is, ODIs and we also got the ICC green signal to host Test matches this year,” Khimji, who was recently appointed as the vice-president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) said.
The Oman Cricket Academy (OCA) ground in Al Amerat, near Oman’s capital Muscat, received Test status this year.
It has already staged T20Is and ODIs.
“It’s a very picturesque stadium, and has a beautiful clubhouse with indoor net facilities too,” said Khimji.
The ICC has already acknowledged it as one of the best cricket grounds amongst the associate cricket nations.
According to sources, there is a possibility that Oman may stage T20 World Cup qualifiers, or the preliminary round games, if the tournament is moved to the UAE.
Oman’s cricket team, coached by former Sri Lanka captain Duleep Mendis, will play in the tournament.
“I’m very optimistic that we can clear the qualifying rounds and play the league stage.
That itself will be an achievement,” Khimji concluded.