For the Oman national team, their T20 World Cup 2024 journey has ended in heartbreak, not due to a defeat, but because of a personal betrayal. The story of the Oman cricket prize money dispute after the T20 World Cup Prize has shaken fans and raised serious questions about fairness in the game.
After the T20 World Cup, players expected recognition, not just in applause, but in the prize money they were promised. Instead, they’ve been left empty-handed.
Prize promised. Money missing. What went wrong? According to several team members, the promised share of ICC prize money never reached them. The funds, they allege, have been withheld without explanation.
Let’s take a look at what Oman Players Are Saying. Kashyap Prajapati stated, “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?” Where Did the Money Go?
Similarly, Fayyaz Butt, another member of the squad, shared his struggles: “It’s been a massive loss for my career and professionally. I had to leave Oman. I’m not working at the moment, looking for opportunities, but our playing careers are over.”
According to reports, the International Cricket Council (ICC) allocated US$225,000 to Oman Cricket for the team’s participation, with a mandate that the funds be distributed to players within 21 days of the tournament’s conclusion. Yet, players claim they haven’t received a single rupee of the prize money.
Oman Cricket’s management and the players are reportedly in serious conflict over how to share the prize money. While the ICC hands over the funds to national boards, it’s up to those boards to distribute them fairly. In Oman’s case, that process seems anything but transparent.
Worse still, this controversy could damage Oman’s cricketing reputation and discourage upcoming talent from trusting the system. One thing is clear: this isn’t just about money. It’s about dignity. It’s about fairness. And it’s about the future of associate cricket. The players didn’t just lose a payout. They lost trust.
