Wednesday 01 / April / 2026
MUSCAT: Oman Cricket (OC) signalled a new phase in its administration with the unanimous election of Chaitanya Khimji, Damodar Katti and Varun Khimji as board members at its Annual General Meeting held at Oman Cricket headquarters in Al Amerat on Tuesday.
The three replace long-serving outgoing members Kiran Asher, Dilip Mehta and Maqbool Moosa Al Lawati, as the governing body looks to build on a period of sustained growth for the sport in the Sultanate.
Chairman Pankaj Khimji underlined the progress made over the past year, calling it “a truly remarkable year for cricket development in Oman.”
“We have witnessed participation from over 3,000 players across more than 60 corporate teams, 40 junior teams and eight Omani teams, reflecting the growing strength and reach of the sport in the country,” he said.
Highlighting the men’s team’s consistency on the global stage, he added: “Being the only Associate nation to qualify for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup four times in the last decade is a phenomenal achievement.”
The OC chief said: "We are in the race for Qualifiers in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 for the 2027 World Cup, which highlights the consistent progress and competitive spirit of the team."
He paid tribute to former head coach Duleep Mendis and said: “His leadership over the past decade has been instrumental in shaping the team’s success,” and expressed confidence in his continued role as Chief Development Officer.
The chairman also pointed to the rise of the women’s team, which has climbed from 74th to 34th in the ICC Women’s T20I rankings after winning 10 of its last 12 matches.
“This is a testament to their dedication and the growing momentum of women’s cricket in Oman,” he said.
Khimji extended deep gratitude to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham bin Tarik, for their continued patronage, and thanked the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for their unwavering support.
On behalf of Oman Cricket, the chairman expressed thanks to the outgoing board members for their invaluable contributions, commitment, and vision in guiding the organisation forward.
Khimji welcomed the newly elected board members and said: “Together, we move ahead with renewed determination to take cricket in Oman to even greater heights."
Oman Cricket Board: Chairman: Pankaj Khimji, Vice chairman: Paul Sheridan, Secretary: Madhu Jesrani, Treasurer: Alkesh Joshi, Members: Syed Anwar Ahsan, Ali Moosa Yousuf, Chaitanya Khimji, Damodar Katti and Varun Khimji.
