Use of technology, improved facilities to highlight new cricket season in Oman
MUSCAT: Record number of women’s teams, increased use of technology and stronger infrastructure will be the highlights of the new season as Oman Cricket (OC) takes steps to strengthen domestic league and expedite the game’s development in the country.
Determined to improve the playing conditions as well as the existing infrastructure to a level befitting its Associate nation status, OC is working hard to ensure each new season, which is scheduled to start on September 8, is better than the previous one.
A state-of-the-art Oman Cricket Academy, highest-ever number of women’s teams, introduction of match referees for Premier and A Division games and provision of free digital scorers by OC are among a host of heartening new steps aimed at raising the country’s profile as an upcoming cricket nation as well as preparing the national players for international assignments.
The Sultanate is one of 92 Associate members of the International Cricket Council (ICC) besides being one of only six countries with T20 international status.
The ICC has 12 full members with Test and ODI status.
Oman will be participating in ICC’s World Cricket League Division Two early next year and then in qualifiers for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 and OC wants its team to be better prepared for these all-important competitions.
“We want our players to get accustomed to the playing conditions, higher levels of discipline and WCL rules. All these steps and developments are aimed at achieving exactly that,” said Duleep Mendis, Head Coach and Chief Development Officer (CDO) of Oman Cricket.
“Introduction of match referees for Premier and A Division games is meant to enforce discipline at the highest level of cricket in Oman,” he added.
A total of eleven people participated in the match referee course conducted here by David Levens, ICC Umpire Coach, last month.
“David was very pleased that OC has started this concept (of match referees) in Oman which is aimed at strengthening the domestic league,” said Mendis.
Full-fledged academy
In a huge boost to the game’s infrastructure in the Sultanate, a fullfledged cricket academy with international standard facilities is likely to open in Al Amerat in December.
“Oman Cricket is very keen to provide the best possible training and learning facilities to players. This academy, with a number of astro-turf pitches, video recording facilities and a state-of-theart gymnasium, will fulfill that gap,” Mendis explained.
The seven-lane indoor facility will have two lanes dedicated to fast bowlers, another two specifically for spinners and the remaining three for normal batting practice.
Oman Cricket has also provided excellent outdoor nets facilities set up by Gabba International, Australia, which is also credited with developing outdoor nets facility at ICC Academy in Dubai.