Great achievement to host T20 World Cup: Oman Cricket boss Pankaj Khimji

Pankaj Khimji, chairman of Oman Cricket. Pic/Oman Cricket website

With the Covid-19 pandemic forcing the shifting of the T20 World Cup from India to the United Arab Emirates, the region which was primarily known as a neutral playing venue has gained huge momentum as it gears up to host its first-ever ICC event.

Along with UAE, the BCCI also pitched for matches to be played at Oman Cricket Academy's picturesque ground at Al Amerat, which is close to Muscat, their capital city. The ground also recently got Test status from the ICC.

Oman came into contention as the fourth venue to primarily accommodate qualifying matches.

The eight nations to make the cut for the qualifying matches are Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Oman, Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland, Namibia and Papua New Guinea. The top four teams will make it to the Stage of 12 to play against the Top Eight teams, which have directly qualified based on their world rankings.

While it is not clear whether Oman will share some qualifying matches with UAE, Oman Cricket chief Pankaj Khimji is thrilled to be the only associate nation to host an ICC event for the first time.

"It's a fantastic feeling. It's a great achievement for an associate nation. We are delighted. We are playing the T20 World Cup for the second time now (after the 2016 T20 World Cup in India). We are the only Asian associate nation to make it to the T20 World Cup qualifiers. So, it's quite an achievement," Khimji told mid-day.com on Tuesday.

"When the BCCI was contemplating to move the T20 World Cup to Dubai, we requested them that if you can play matches in Dubai, then why not in Muscat. They [the BCCI] were magnanimous in considering our request. We are happy that we will be playing our qualification matches at home. We will have the home turf advantage. I hope it will go well for us," Khimji added.

With just three months left for the tournament that gets underway from October 17 (to November 14), co-hosts Oman's challenge will be to prepare two extra dressing rooms, considering the Covid-19 precautions and erect makeshift stands to accommodate around 5,000 fans.

"From a preparation point of view, we have a fantastic infrastructure. We have got floodlights. Considering Covid, we will have to build extra dressing rooms as there will be not much time with the teams playing the second game since we have got to sanitise the dressing rooms [after every game]. We will put up big screens and we have got to build a certain infrastructure for the television cameras.

"We have got enough time for that. Apart from that, we are pretty ready. Our turf is one of the best," said Khimji.

"We will try to get 3,000 to 5,000 fans for the games. By end of August, we should have inoculated at least two-third of our population. So, from a Covid-19 perspective, we believe October is safe enough to host the matches.

"As far as the ground is concerned, all the ground staff and everyone involved will be vaccinated. We will have a very safe surrounding. Also, the hotel will be carefully chosen and they will all be in a safe bubble," said Khimji, who has been in touch with the BCCI officials for the last few weeks.

The biggest high for Khimji is having Oman on the world cricketing map.

"It really puts Oman on the global cricketing map. It also showcases the beautiful country to cricket fans. I hope this will put Oman as a destination for travel, business and cricketing extravaganza. I hope this will be the first of many cricketing events for Oman," Khimji signed off.

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