The domestic season will commence with T20 tournaments in all categories, while spectators will not be allowed at the grounds at the moment as a precautionary step towards COVID-19 pandemic. 57 teams across all premier and lower divisions in the men’s category will participate in the T20 league, while the women’s league will see 6 teams compete for the title. Junior cricket league will see a total of 31 teams compete during the new season.

“Focus on human safety, strict enforcement of discipline and increased use of technology will be the highlights of the new season which is expected to help us prepare well for our international assignments’’, said Duleep Mendis, Chief Development Officer, was quoted on the Oman Cricket website.

“All the games will be held under the strict safety guidelines including social distancing and proper sanitizing of dressing rooms, sitting area, washrooms and dining rooms before, during and after the play. Teams will be advised to follow the health protocols before the games start’’, added Mendis.

The domestic premier league for 2019-2020 season in both T20 and 50-overs formats saw the final games played in the month of March 2020, before the global pandemic lockdowns began. Assarain CC and Passage to India CC were the top 2 clubs in both the formats, with Assarain on top of the points table in the 50-overs competition, while Passage to India leading the T20 competition. Jatinder Singh (Muscat CC), Sanuth Ebrahim (Assarain) and Shoaib Khan (Muscat CC) were the three players with over 500+ runs in the whole season combined (T20 and 50-overs), while Samay Srivastava (Muscat CC) and Bilal Khan (Passage to India) were the top bowlers for the season.

Arm Alpha, IT Works, Muscat CT, Al Turki, AER and Renaissance are the teams that will compete for the T20 title, after Passage to India (PTI) and Assarain opted out of participation, and most of the players from these two clubs joining the clubs who will take part in the new season. IT Works will be fielding a strong batting line-up comprising of Oman national squad members Zeeshan Maqsood, Khawar Ali, Adnan Ilyas, Muhammed Nadeem and Khurram Khan.

Al Turki will be another fancied team that includes the likes of Twinkle Bhandari, Mehran Khan, Sindo Michael and Gustav Burger in their line-up, while Naseem Khushi, Amir Kaleem, Kashyap Prajapati and Waseem Ali will be some of the players to watch out for in Muscat CT team.

The T20 tournament will be followed by domestic 50-overs competition, which will be crucial for player looking to get into the senior squad ahead of CWC League 2 matches/tournaments in 2021. Full schedule for the 2020-2021 domestic season including all the divisions can be found on this link.

Vanuatu Cricket will organize the Women’s club super league finals day on 25th Apr 2020, with the matches being livestreamed on Vanuatu Cricket’s Facebook page. Vanuatu Cricket President Shane Dietz has also announced that there will be a men’s T10 exhibition game taking place before the women’s matches. The T10 matches will feature the national squad members of Vanuatu.

The men’s 40-over club championship will begin on the following weekend, 02nd May 2020, with seven teams competing for the title. In the Women’s club super league finals day, Power House Sharks will take on Tafea Black Birds in the semi-final in the morning, with the winner facing off in the final against Mele Bulls, who have been undefeated in the four-team competition.

“We have decided that it is safe for us to resume our cricketing activities,” said Shane Deitz, CEO, Vanuatu Cricket. “However, we understand that there is still a need for physical distancing and we will do our best to ensure that we abide by physical distancing recommendations and also maintain good hygiene.”

“We understand the devastation that TC Harold has caused on the northern islands of Vanuatu and we would like to give back to the communities that we have been working closely with on Santo that have been affected,” explained Melissa Fare, Vanuatu Cricket marketing manager.

Previous Match Results

Power House Sharks 135/5 in 20 overs (Merielle Kenni 37, Melisa Fare 28, Jackyn Wayne 2/28, Eslyn John 2/9, Assenata Toropi 1/18) beat Tafea Blackbirds 70/8 in 17.4 overs (Linda Kenni 25, Vanessa Vira 4/5, Judith Avock 1/11, Maeva Vira 1/15, Melisa Fare 1/17) by 65 runs

Mele Bulls 216/6 in 20 overs (Valenta Langiatu 122, Theresa Mansale 29, Alvina Chilia 17, Eslyn John 2/34, Ruth Kaltonga 1/25, Shania Kenni 1/62) beat Tafea Blackbirds 85/6 in 20 overs (Ruth Kaltonga 25, Shania Kenni 18, Vicky Mansale 2/6, Valenta Langiatu 2/15, Alvina Chilia 1/21) by 131 runs

Mele Bulls 144/4 in 20 overs (Valenta Langiatu 51, Alvina Chilia 51, Vicky Mansale 22 n.o, Melisa Fare 2/26, Glenda Kaiapam 2/7) beat Power House Sharks 34/9 in 11.2 overs (Alvina Chilia 3/3, Vicky Mansale 2/8, Malonie Vatoko 2/11, Marcelina Mete 2/12) by 110 runs

Women’s Super League Players Preview

Power House Sharks: Merielle Kenni (128 runs in 4 matches), Melisa Fare (84 runs and 11 wickets in 4 matches), Judith Avock (43 runs and 2 wickets in 4 matches), Vanessa Vira (4 wickets in 1 match), Maeva Vira (4 wickets in 4 matches)

Tafea Blackbirds: Shania Kenni (39 runs in 4 matches), Ruth Kaltonga (31 runs and 3 wickets in 4 matches), Linda Kenni (26 runs in 4 matches), Eslyn John (6 wickets in 5 matches), Jackyn Wayne (3 wickets in 4 matches), Assenata Toropi (17 runs and 2 wickets in 5 matches)

Mele Bulls: Valenta Langiatu (205 runs and 4 wickets in 4 matches), Alvina Chilia (137 runs and 9 wickets in 4 matches), Theresa Mansale (50 runs in 4 matches), Vicky Mansale (47 runs and 6 wickets in 4 matches), Malonie Vatoko (4 wickets in 3 matches), Marcelina Mete (4 wickets in 3 matches)

Brief Score (Men’s T10 Exhibition Game)

Vanuatu Team A 123/5 in 10 overs (Jamal Vira 52, Nalin Nipiko 40, Apolinaire Stephen 1/12, Patrick Matautaava 1/14, Godfrey Mangau 1/27, Vince Vira 1/30) beat Vanuatu Team B 105/4 in 10 overs (Patrick Matautaava 46, Ala Vira 17 n.o, Andrew Mansale 12, Williamsing Nalisa 1/14, Nalin Nipiko 1/21, Stephane Sandy 1/6, Wesley Vira 1/16) by 18 runs

Domestic Cricket will continue in Vanuatu, as the Men’s T10 League (BetBarter Vanuatu Smash) will take place from May 21st – Jun 13th, 2020, where the top 3 Men’s domestic clubs will compete and the matches will be live streamed globally.

https://youtu.be/1a17dDWr44E