MUSCAT: In a big step forward for women's cricket in Oman, the Oman Cricket Academy (OCA) Girls Under-15 squad began a four-match T20 tour in Dubai, UAE, on Monday.
The 14-member team is set to compete in the Root Academy Tournament at the famous Sevens Stadium from April 15 to 18.
The tour began on Tuesday, with Oman girls meeting South Island Girls in the first match. This will be followed by three further matches on consecutive days against the North Jersey Girls, the Desert Vipers, and an unconfirmed opponent.
Aanya Kapil Sankla, Amishi Sarkar, Aneeka Ashik, Devananda Jithin, Disha Pradeep Kumar, Harnoor Kaur, Haya Rahamath, Katharine Treesa Binu, Kavya Nirav Damania, Kushi Cherish Muthukumari Egodagamage, Pia Sharma, Radhika Vatrana, Sahana Jeelany, and Tanya Amit Kirti are among the 15 players on the squad.
Sultan Ahmed, the OCA girls U15 coach, expressed confidence in the team's potential and emphasized the necessity of such tours for the growth of women's cricket in Oman. He stated: "It is an excellent opportunity for young females to express themselves and demonstrate their talent. They had already played domestic cricket in Oman, and this opportunity allows them to test themselves in distant conditions."
He emphasized the squad's balanced composition. "Our team is balanced; we have a solid batting lineup, with the bulk of them all-rounders, as well as great spin bowling options," said Ahmed, the former Oman captain.
One of the squad's standouts is Sahana Jeelany, who has previously represented Oman at the senior national level. Sultan interprets this as a harbinger of things to come. He stated, "Sahana is a member of the national women's team, and I am convinced that other ladies in this squad will be able to play at the senior level in the future after learning from similar experiences and travels."
The coach also emphasized the importance of exposure gained through international travels. "This tour will give these girls more exposure and experience in playing competitive cricket," Ahmed stated.
Many of the players - Radhika, Katharine, Aneeka, Devananda, Amishi, and Pia - are graduates of the Oman Cricket Academy, which is a positive indicator for the grassroots development of women's cricket in the Sultanate of Oman.
"We, as a squad, are looking forward to enjoying a good and enriching week," said the coach.
This visit is an important milestone in Oman's ongoing efforts to support and develop female cricketers. With Oman Cricket's support and continued development at the academy level, initiatives like this Dubai tour are laying the groundwork for a brighter future for women's cricket in the country.
