Oman Cricket Academy Ground

In July 2008, Oman Cricket announced plans to construct an international-standard facility at Al Amarat, about 15 kilometres south-east of the centre of the city of Muscat. 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.(16 July 2008). [http://www.asiancricket.org/index.php/news/july-2008/449 "Oman's big plans"] – Asian Cricket Council. Retrieved 16 March 2016. The venue, known as the Al Amerat Cricket Stadium, was inaugurated in October 2012, by Ashraful Haque, the chief executive of the Asian Cricket Council. It held its first match – a club game – two months later.[http://www.asiancricket.org/index.php/news/december-2012/2565 "Al Amerat rises"] – Asian Cricket Council. Retrieved 16 March 2016. Floodlights were installed at the venue in 2015,[http://timesofoman.com/article/72481/Sports/Cricket/Cricket:-Lights-on-Oman-Cricket-unveils-new-facilities-at-Al-Amerat "Lights on, Oman Cricket unveils new facilities at Al Amerat"] – Times of Oman. Retrieved 16 March 2016. and there are plans for an indoor academy to be built, to complement the existing academy at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex. 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 status.{{cite web|url=http://www.cricketireland.ie/news/article/revised-tour-dates-for-ireland-v-afghanistan-series-released |title=Revised tour dates for Ireland v Afghanistan series released |work=Cricket Ireland |accessdate=14 January 2019}}

On 21 January 2019, in a match between the Maldives and Bahrain, the Maldivian bowler Ibrahim Hassan took the first Twenty20 International (T20I) five-wicket haul on this ground.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1171754.html |title=3rd Match, ACC Western Region T20 at Al Amarat, Jan 21 2019 |work=ESPN Cricinfo |accessdate=17 February 2019}}

On 23 January 2019, in a match between Kuwait and Bahrain, Kuwait's Ravija Sandaruwan scored the first Twenty20 International (T20I) century on this ground.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1171759.html |title=8th Match, ACC Western Region T20 at Al Amarat, Jan 23 2019 |accessdate=23 January 2019 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}

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 64 runs, the lowest score ever at the stadium.{{Cite web|date=2021-10-05|title=Al Amerat Cricket Stadium Oman T20 Records and Statistics|url=https://t20-head-to-head.com/al-amerat-cricket-stadium-oman-t20-records-and-statistics/|access-date=2021-10-06|website=T20 Head to Head|language=en-GB}}

In November 2019, first round of Cricket World Cup Challenge League B was scheduled to take place in Hong Kong.{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/1310135 |title=ICC launches the road to India 2023 |work=International Cricket Council |accessdate=12 August 2019}} However, citing the instability in Hong Kong, all the matches were moved to this venue.{{cite web |title=Politically unstable Hong Kong loses men's CWC Challenge League B hosting rights |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/politically-unstable-hong-kong-loses-men-s-cwc-challenge-league-b-hosting-rights-1204661 |accessdate=24 October 2019 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/1464656|title=Oman to replace Hong Kong as hosts of Men's CWC Challenge League B|work=International Cricket Council |accessdate=24 October 2019}}

In February 2020, it hosted 2020 ACC Western Region T20.{{cite web|url=http://www.omancricket.org/oman-eyes-acc-western-region-triumph-road-asia-cup-2020/ |title=Oman eyes ACC Western Region triumph on road to 2020 Asia Cup|work=Oman Cricket |accessdate=20 February 2020}}

The stadium hosted the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup along with the UAE due to rising Covid-19 cases in India.{{cite web|url=https://www.bcci.tv/articles/2021/news/154526/bcci-to-host-icc-t20-world-cup-in-uae-oman |title=ICC T20 World Cup to be hosted in UAE & Oman|work=BCCI |accessdate=1 July 2021}} Following the qualification to host the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, the Al Amerat Turf 1 underwent major upgrade 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.{{Cite web|title=10 years on from playing on sand and cement, Oman cricket set to welcome the world|url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/cricket/2021/09/22/10-years-on-from-playing-on-sand-and-cement-oman-cricket-set-to-welcome-the-world/|access-date=2021-10-02|website=The National}} 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.

The following table summarizes the centuries scored in ODIs at this venue.{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=2;filter=advanced;ground=3389;orderby=start;runsmin1=100;runsval1=runs;template=results;type=batting;view=innings|title=Statistics / Statsguru / One-Day Internationals / Batting records|accessdate=8 January 2020}}

The following table summarizes the five-wicket hauls taken in ODIs at this venue.{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=2;filter=advanced;ground=3389;orderby=start;template=results;type=bowling;view=innings;wicketsmin1=5;wicketsval1=wickets|title=Statistics / Statsguru / One-Day Internationals / Bowling records|accessdate=8 January 2020}}

Two T20I centuries have been scored at the venue.{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=3;filter=advanced;ground=3389;orderby=start;runsmin1=100;runsval1=runs;template=results;type=batting;view=innings|title=Statistics / Statsguru / Twenty20 Internationals / Batting records|accessdate=25 February 2020}}

The following table summarizes the five-wicket hauls taken in T20Is at this venue.{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=3;filter=advanced;ground=3389;orderby=start;template=results;type=bowling;view=innings;wicketsmin1=5;wicketsval1=wickets|title=Statistics / Statsguru / Twenty20 Internationals / Bowling records|accessdate=17 February 2019}}

Two WT20I centuries has been scored at the venue.{{cite web|url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=10;filter=advanced;ground=3389;orderby=start;runsmin1=100;runsval1=runs;size=100;template=results;type=batting;view=innings|title=Statistics / Statsguru / Women's Twenty20 Internationals / Batting records|accessdate=25 March 2022}}

The following table summarizes the five-wicket hauls taken in WT20Is at this venue.{{cite web|url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=10;filter=advanced;ground=3389;orderby=start;template=results;type=bowling;view=innings;wicketsmin1=5;wicketsval1=wickets|title=Statistics / Statsguru / Women's Twenty20 Internationals / Bowling records|accessdate=24 March 2022}}

Three T20I centuries have been scored at the venue.{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=3;filter=advanced;ground=3463;orderby=start;runsmin1=100;runsval1=runs;template=results;type=batting;view=innings|title=Statistics / Statsguru / Twenty20 Internationals / Batting records|accessdate=17 February 2019}}

One five-wicket haul has been taken in T20Is at this venue.{{cite web|url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=3;filter=advanced;ground=3463;orderby=start;template=results;type=bowling;view=innings;wicketsmin1=5;wicketsval1=wickets|title=Statistics / Statsguru / Twenty20 Internationals / Bowling records|accessdate=24 February 2022}}

Two WT20I centuries have been scored at the venue.{{cite web|url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=10;filter=advanced;ground=3463;orderby=start;runsmin1=100;runsval1=runs;template=results;type=batting;view=innings|title=Statistics / Statsguru / Women's Twenty20 Internationals / Batting records|accessdate=22 March 2022}}

One five-wicket haul has been taken in WT20Is at this venue.{{cite web|url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=10;filter=advanced;ground=3463;orderby=start;template=results;type=bowling;view=innings;wicketsmin1=5;wicketsval1=wickets|title=Statistics / Statsguru / Women's Twenty20 Internationals / Bowling records|accessdate=20 March 2022}}

{{reflist}}

Category:2012 establishments in Oman

Category:Sports venues completed in 2012

Category:Cricket grounds in Oman

Category:Buildings and structures in Muscat, Oman

Category:Sports venues in Muscat, Oman