Oman cricket captain Jatinder Singh is calling on India and other top cricketing countries to give Associate nations like his team more chances to grow the game. This comes after Oman’s impressive debut in the Asia Cup, where they put up a tough fight against the world’s number one T20I side, India.
In their first-ever match against India in any format, Oman nearly pulled off an upset in Abu Dhabi. They chased hard but fell short by 21 runs. Jatinder praised his players’ grit and urged bigger nations to open doors. “If we can get India to step forward—letting us train at their facilities, visit the National Cricket Academies, work on skills, mental strength, fitness, and play plenty of T20 matches against club and Ranji teams—that would really bridge the gap for us,” he said after the game.
Oman has competed in World Cups before, but the Asia Cup— a tournament that’s been running since the 1980s—marked a big milestone for them. Jatinder called the experience priceless and pushed for more spots for Associate teams. “We’re an Associate nation, so we rarely get to face Test-playing countries,” he explained. “We’re so lucky to have this platform, and I’m incredibly proud of how the boys showed real character out there.”
He also highlighted a key issue: Omani players often miss out on franchise leagues, which limits their growth. “Our players are just as talented as anyone else. If they get into franchise cricket or more tournaments like this, they’ll gain valuable experience and bring it back to train the next generation in Oman.”
Looking back on the India clash, Jatinder stayed upbeat. T20 cricket keeps everyone on their toes—any team can win on any day. “The boys stuck to their plans and were right in it,” he said. “I’m thrilled with every individual’s effort, from bowling and fielding to batting. We just needed better partnerships in the key moments, but they showed huge heart.”
With T20 World Cup qualifiers coming up in Oman soon, Jatinder is excited about the future. “The team’s united and ready to roar,” he added, building on this Asia Cup momentum for Associate nations cricket.
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