Oman Cricket Academy Ground, also known as the Al Amerat Cricket Stadium, is a cricket ground in
Muscat
Muscat ( ar, مَسْقَط, ) is the capital and most populated city in Oman
Oman ( ; ar, عُمَان ' ), officially the Sultanate of Oman ( ar, سلْطنةُ عُمان ), is an Arabian country located in southwestern Asia. It is s ...
,
Oman
Oman ( ; ar, عُمَان ' ), officially the Sultanate of Oman ( ar, سلْطنةُ عُمان ), is an Arabian country located in southwestern Asia. It is situated on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and spans the mouth of t ...
. The ground is owned by the
Oman Cricket Board
The Oman Cricket Board, known as Oman Cricket for marketing purposes, is the official Sport governing body, governing body of the sport of cricket in Oman. Its current headquarters are located in Ruwi, Oman. The Oman Cricket Board is Oman's repre ...
. In January 2021, the
International Cricket Council
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the world governing body of cricket. Headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, its members are List of International Cricket Council members, 108 national associations, with 12 List of Internation ...
(ICC) gave accreditation for the Ministry Turf 1 at the stadium to host
Test cricket
Test cricket is a form of first-class cricket played at international level between teams representing full member countries of the International Cricket Council (ICC). A match consists of four innings (two per team) and is scheduled to last fo ...
.
History
In July 2008, Oman Cricket announced plans to construct an international-standard facility at
Al Amarat
Al ‘Āmrāt ( ar, العامرات) or Al Amirat is a city in Muscat, in northeastern Oman.
Al Amarat is the fifth (out of six) most populated province in the Muscat Governorate after Muscat itself, As Seeb, Bawshar and Muttrah.
Al Amarat i ...
, about 15 kilometres south-east of the centre of the city of
Muscat
Muscat ( ar, مَسْقَط, ) is the capital and most populated city in Oman
Oman ( ; ar, عُمَان ' ), officially the Sultanate of Oman ( ar, سلْطنةُ عُمان ), is an Arabian country located in southwestern Asia. It is s ...
. The cost of the project was initially estimated at 2 million
Omani rials (US$5.2 million), with the land donated by the Ministry of Sports Affairs and the rest of the funding to be raised through corporate sponsorship. The venue, known as the Al Amerat Cricket Stadium, was inaugurated in October 2012, by
Ashraful Haque
Syed Ashraful Haq is a former Bangladeshi cricketer. He was the architect of Bangladesh's first ever ICC Trophy victory, over Fiji in May 1979. His 7/23 from 9.2 overs completely destroyed the Fiji middle order, leading Bangladesh to a 22 r ...
, the chief executive of the
Asian Cricket Council
The Asian Cricket Council also known as ACC is a cricket organisation which was established in 1983, to promote and develop the sport of cricket in Asia. Subordinate to the International Cricket Council, the council is the continent's regional ...
. It held its first match – a club game – two months later. Floodlights were installed at the venue in 2015, and there are plans for an indoor academy to be built, to complement the existing academy at the
Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex
The Sultan Qaboos Stadium at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex ( ar, مجمع السلطان قابوس الرياضي), also known locally as Boshar ( ar, بوشر), is a government-owned multi-purpose stadium in the Boshar district of Muscat, ...
. Oman Cricket Board later announced the construction of pavilions and an indoor state of the art training facility that also houses the HQ for Oman Cricket Board.
The venue hosted the
2019 ACC Western Region T20, followed by the
Oman Quadrangular Series in February 2019. Matches played in both events had
Twenty20 International
A Twenty20 International (T20I) is a form of cricket, played between two of the international members of the International Cricket Council (ICC), in which each team faces a maximum of twenty overs. The matches have top-class status and are the ...
status.
On 21 January 2019, in a match between the
Maldives
Maldives (, ; dv, ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ, translit=Dhivehi Raajje, ), officially the Republic of Maldives ( dv, ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ, translit=Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa, label=none, ), is an archipelag ...
and
Bahrain
Bahrain ( ; ; ar, البحرين, al-Bahrayn, locally ), officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, ' is an island country in Western Asia. It is situated on the Persian Gulf, and comprises a small archipelago made up of 50 natural islands and an ...
, the Maldivian bowler
Ibrahim Hassan
Ibrahim Hassan Hussein ( ar, إبراهيم حسن حسين; born 10 August 1966) is an Egyptian former professional football player who played as a right back. Ibrahim Hassan has well over 100 caps for Egypt. His twin brother Hossam also play ...
took the first ever
Twenty20 International
A Twenty20 International (T20I) is a form of cricket, played between two of the international members of the International Cricket Council (ICC), in which each team faces a maximum of twenty overs. The matches have top-class status and are the ...
(T20I) five-wicket haul on this ground.
On 23 January 2019, in a match between
Kuwait
Kuwait (; ar, الكويت ', or ), officially the State of Kuwait ( ar, دولة الكويت '), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq to the nort ...
and Bahrain, Kuwait's
Ravija Sandaruwan scored the first ever Twenty20 International (T20I) century on this ground.
In October 2019, a Pentangular T20 Series between ICC associate sides with ODI status, Oman, Ireland, Nepal and the Netherlands in addition to Hong Kong (not ODI status) was held at the venue. Home side Oman won all 4 of their matches to win the series including beating Nepal in the final game having dismissed them for a record low score at the stadium of 64
In November 2019,
first round of Cricket World Cup Challenge League B was scheduled to take place in
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
. However, citing the
instability in Hong Kong, all the matches were moved to this venue.
In February 2020, it hosted
2020 ACC Western Region T20.
The stadium hosted the
2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup
The 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup was the seventh ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament, with the matches played in the United Arab Emirates and Oman from 17 October to 14 November 2021. The West Indies were the defending champions, but were eventua ...
along with UAE due to rising cases in India. Following the qualification to host the
2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup
The 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup was the seventh ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament, with the matches played in the United Arab Emirates and Oman from 17 October to 14 November 2021. The West Indies were the defending champions, but were eventua ...
, the Al Amerat Turf 1 underwent major changes with the addition of new floodlights and pavilions. It is expected to have a seating capacity of 4000, including VIP and VVIP seating along with dedicated commentary boxes. The scoreboard was also upgraded to a digital scoreboard. Six matches were played at the stadium during the first-round stage of the tournament, including all three of Oman's matches.
International record
Ministry Turf 1
One-Day International centuries
The following table summarizes the centuries scored in ODIs at this venue.
One-Day International five-wicket hauls
The following table summarizes the five-wicket hauls taken in ODIs at this venue.
Twenty20 International centuries
Two T20I centuries have been scored at the venue.
Twenty20 International five-wicket hauls
The following table summarizes the five-wicket hauls taken in T20Is at this venue.
Women's Twenty20 International centuries
Two WT20I centuries has been scored at the venue.
Women's Twenty20 International five-wicket hauls
The following table summarizes the five-wicket hauls taken in WT20Is at this venue.
Ministry Turf 2
Twenty20 International centuries
Three T20I centuries have been scored at the venue.
Twenty20 International five-wicket hauls
One five-wicket haul has been taken in T20Is at this venue.
Women's Twenty20 International centuries
Two WT20I centuries have been scored at the venue.
Women's Twenty20 International five-wicket hauls
One five-wicket haul has been taken in WT20Is at this venue.
References
{{reflist
2012 establishments in Oman
Sports venues completed in 2012
Cricket grounds in Oman
Buildings and structures in Muscat, Oman
Sports venues in Muscat, Oman