Latest news with #KashyapPrajapati
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
2 hours ago
- Sport
- First Post
Oman cricketers accuse their board of ruining careers, lives by withholding ICC prize money: 'Our lives have been upended'
Oman cricketers have accused their board of not paying a single penny from the US$ 225,000 prize money that was supposed to be distributed within the squad that had participated in last year's T20 World Cup in the US and the Caribbean. read more Oman got to rub shoulders with top teams such as Australia and England at last year's T20 World Cup. AFP Several members of the Oman cricket team have accused the country's board of sabotaging their careers and lives by refusing to pay them their share of prize money from ICC events, shining the spotlight on corruption in boards, especially in Associate Nations. According to a report on ESPNCricinfo, not a single member of the Oman squad that had participated in last year's T20 World Cup in the US and the Caribbean is yet to receive a single penny from the US$ 225,000 prize money that they had won by virtue of finishing between the 13th and 20th positions at the end of the tournament. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD '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?' top-order batter Kashyap Prajapati, who had featured in the 2021 and 2024 T20 World Cups and is currently in the US, told ESPNCricinfo. 'Our playing careers are over' Oman Cricket's refusal to distribute the prize money to their players has, in turn, resulted in nearly every member of their T20 World Cup squad leaving the team, many of whom have also had to move out of the country due to their employment visas getting revoked as a result of being out of work. '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,' Pakistani-born Fayyaz Butt, who played 30 ODIs and 47 T20Is for Oman, said. What makes the pay dispute in Oman cricket even more heart-breaking is the fact that the players would not have been aware about their board withholding their prize money had they not come across articles mentioning ICC's record prize money of US$ 11.25 million for last year's T20 World Cup, of which winners India took home the lion's share of US$ 2.45 million . The Oman team reportedly had not been received the prize money for their participation in the 2021 T20 World Cup, which they had co-hosted with the United Arab Emirates, either. ICC's rules state that member boards whose teams are participating in a global event must distribute the prize money to the squad within 21 days of the event, with the global body later confirming that they had indeed transferred the funds to Oman Cricket. The Omani cricketers tried raising the issue during a T20 triangular series in Canada where Nepal were the third team in action. Nepal and Canada too had participated in the T20 World Cup but got their share of the prize money after facing resistance from their boards. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Prajapati and the rest of the team decided to take a unified stand during the T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup that was hosted by Oman in October, which resulted in a mass exodus after a board official threatened them with expulsion if they did not withdraw their demand for prize money and simply focused on their game. 'The issue reflects poorly on the whole sport' The World Cricketers Association, which claims that Associate nations typically pay their players 20 to 70 per cent of the prize money that they earn from ICC events, has described the situation as one that 'reflects poorly on the whole sport'. 'In a sport that is trying to retain players in international cricket and ensure its future and relevance, it's disappointing to see more non-payment issues, including in pinnacle ICC events held almost a year ago. 'We understand ICC management have continued to chase the boards on this, but the issue reflects poorly on the whole sport and adds to the widespread issues in domestic leagues,' Tom Moffat, the WCA CEO was quoted by the website as saying.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
a day ago
- Sport
- Business Standard
We don't understand why ICC can't help us: Former Oman cricketer Prajapati
Kashyap Prajapati once stood on cricket's biggest stages, representing Oman in the 2024 T20 World Cup alongside some of the sport's biggest names. Just a year later, he finds himself far from the spotlight, living in the United States and uncertain about his cricketing future. His career came to an abrupt halt—not due to poor performance or injury, but because of unresolved financial disputes. The promised share of the ICC prize money from the World Cup never reached him or most of his teammates. After raising their concerns, Prajapati and several senior players were unexpectedly removed from the national team. Frustrated and disillusioned, they question why the ICC, which distributed the funds to Oman Cricket, has not intervened to ensure the players receive what they are owed. From World Cup Glory to Uncertain Exile For Prajapati, playing in the 2024 T20 World Cup was a peak moment after years of dedication. Yet, that triumph was overshadowed by a harsh reality—the players never received their portion of the $225,000 prize money awarded to Oman. It was only through news reports about the record prize fund that they realised something was amiss. Now based in the US, Prajapati feels abandoned, puzzled by the ICC's apparent inaction despite the money being sent to Oman Cricket. Silence and Broken Promises The issue first surfaced months after the tournament. During a tri-series in Canada, Oman players learnt from their counterparts in Nepal and Canada that those teams had at least partially received their prize money. Motivated by this, the Oman squad raised the matter with their officials but were met with vague reassurances and delays. Despite promises that the issue was being addressed, no resolution came. Standing Up Led to Exclusion Before the Emerging Teams Asia Cup in October, senior Oman players united to demand answers. Prajapati recalls that when some players declined to participate without clarity on the money, they were swiftly dropped from the squad. Several senior team members were even asked to vacate their accommodations, abruptly ending their international careers. Loss Beyond Cricket In Oman, losing a cricket contract means losing employment and residency rights. Fast bowler Fayyaz Butt described the situation as devastating personally and professionally, now searching for opportunities outside cricket. Prajapati shared how standing up for their rights cost many players their jobs, visas, and places in the national team. No Voice for Players A major hurdle is Oman's lack of a players' association. It was only after connecting with the World Cricketers' Association during the Canada tri-series that the players understood their rights and found a support network. The WCA highlights that unpaid prize money is a common problem among Associate nations, but Oman's case is particularly severe. WCA CEO Tom Moffat expressed frustration over the ICC's limited enforcement power, noting that their proposal to withhold funds from boards failing to pay players hasn't been accepted. Left in the Dark While the ICC confirmed transferring funds to Oman Cricket, there has been no direct communication with the players. Prajapati described the silence as the most painful part, feeling 'forgotten' and trapped in a system with no safe space to voice concerns. As Oman's team rebuilds without its senior players, Prajapati and others are left wondering whether the people governing international cricket truly hear the struggles of those who bring the game to life.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘We've lost our spot in the team, our contracts have been torn up,' Oman cricketer Kashyap Prajapati
Oman, though, did not win a game in last year's T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA, and the Caribbean has shown a lot of promise for the future. However, the 15-man squad did not receive the cash prize of 225,000 US dollars announced by the ICC for teams participating. According to the ICC the amount has been disbursed to the Oman Cricket Board but has not gone to the players yet. '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,' Kashyap Prajapati told ESPNcricinfo. '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?' 'It's been a massive loss for my career and professionally,' said another player Fayyaz Butt, 'I had to leave Oman. I'm not working at the moment, looking for opportunities but our playing careers are over.' The issue was raised to the World Cricketers Association (WCA) when Oman was playing a tri-series in Canada. 'In a sport that is trying to retain players in international cricket and ensure its future and relevance, it's disappointing to see more non-payment issues, including in pinnacle ICC events held almost a year ago,' Tom Moffat, the WCA CEO, told ESPNcricinfo. 'We understand ICC management have continued to chase the boards on this, but the issue reflects poorly on the whole sport and adds to the widespread issues in domestic leagues. 'There are simple solutions to this problem and whilst the majority of boards do the right thing, it's frustrating that some are still not. It's also extremely concerning if some players are unable to raise their legitimate issues without fear of being punished for doing so,' he added.
