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Cricketer Kashyap Prajapati, once playing against giants like Australia and England in the T20 World Cup, now finds himself far from home due to a payment dispute. Despite not winning any matches last year, the tournament presented a unique opportunity for Oman—and especially for Prajapati, who had experienced his second World Cup stint. Unfortunately, almost a year later, the US$ 225,000 prize money allocated for Oman’s squad remains unpaid.
Nearly the entire roster from that tournament have left Oman, with some relocating entirely, following the cricket board’s reluctance to disburse the funds awarded for placements between 13th and 20th in the competition. At the time, the ICC proudly announced a record-breaking prize pool of US$ 11.25 million, with US$ 2.45 million going to the champions, India. However, as highlighted by the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA), several national boards, including Oman’s, have lagged in distributing winnings to players.
“Over this issue, our lives have been upended; we’ve lost our spot in the team, our contracts have been torn up, and we have been forced to leave the country,” Prajapati explained to ESPNcricinfo. He expressed bewilderment at the lack of support from the ICC, which, by its regulations, mandates payment within 21 days post-tournament via national cricket boards. Despite the funds being transferred to Oman Cricket, the players are yet to see their share.
The players were initially unaware of the prize sum due to minimal communication, a predicament accentuated by extensive media coverage of the record-breaking financial awards last year. This was not the first instance of confusion, as they allegedly missed out on payments from the 2021 Cup as well.
Post-World Cup, the issue was raised during international play, notably at a tri-series event in Canada where Oman faced the hosts and Nepal. There, they discovered that Nepali and Canadian players encountered similar resistance before eventually receiving their money.
The unresolved situation has not only led to professional instability for players like Prajapati but also casts a shadow over the governance and management within Oman Cricket, drawing attention to a broader issue affecting multiple boards, according to the WCA.
