Jay Shah Visits Oman Cricket Headquarters as Indian Captain Ransom Claims Surface in Muscat
ICC Chairman Jay Shah visited Muscat this week, stopping at the Oman Cricket headquarters during a private trip to the Sultanate, where he praised the country's cricketing progress and called for investment in permanent facilities. The visit drew wide attention from Oman's large Indian expat community, which follows cricket alongside the travel and safety news that shape daily life in the Gulf.
ICC Chairman Calls for Permanent Cricket Infrastructure in Oman
ICC Chairman Jay Shah made time during a private visit to Oman to call at the Oman Cricket headquarters, where he was received by OC President Pankaj Khimji, Vice-President Paul Sheridan, Treasurer Alkesh Joshi, and Secretary Madhu Jesrani, along with board officials including Syed Anwar, Chaitanya Khimji, Damodar Katti, and chief development officer Duleep Mendis. Shah toured the facilities and met the all-Omani national squad, which was preparing for the Asian Games, as well as the under-19 boys team, the senior women's team, and the under-19 girls squad. In subsequent discussions with the OC board, he addressed cricket's development in Oman and the opportunities available to host international and regional fixtures. Shah recalled Oman's pivotal contribution during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the ICC Men's T20 World Cup was moved from India in 2021 and Oman alongside the UAE stepped in at very short notice. He praised the effort directly: "Oman did a fantastic job," he said, commending both the infrastructure in place at the time and the organisational readiness displayed. Looking ahead, Shah identified permanent infrastructure as the essential next step. "Right now, the infrastructure is very good, but if you want to host international games, you need some permanent infrastructure also," he said, citing spectator stands as one example. The ICC chairman indicated that the global governing body could explore ways to support Oman's development plans and expressed confidence that permanent facilities would eventually be built. [1]
🤝 Air India Updates Muscat Routes for Indian Travellers This September
Air India Express has published its September 2026 flight schedule covering routes between India and Muscat, offering practical guidance to Indian travellers — including members of Oman's large Indian expat community — who rely on these connections for visits home, family emergencies, or annual leave. The Wego Travel Blog guide, updated in early September 2026, outlines which Indian cities are currently linked to Muscat and the operational status of those services, noting that broader airspace conditions have disrupted some routes elsewhere while Muscat-specific flights remain bookable with dated offers. Beyond Air India and its low-cost subsidiary Air India Express, IndiGo is also operating flights on the India-Muscat corridor, providing travellers with competitive alternatives on several routes. Oman-based carriers continue to serve the market from the Sultanate side. The guide addresses the practicalities of rebooking and refunds for passengers whose flights may be affected by disruptions, a concern that has grown as regional airspace conditions have occasionally forced rerouting or cancellations. Oman visa requirements for Indian nationals are also covered, which is especially relevant for new arrivals and those with family members visiting from India. For a diaspora community where back-and-forth travel between Oman and the subcontinent is routine — for festivals, family occasions, or the end of a work contract — access to a reliable and current summary of what is flying and what is not is a genuine service during a period of ongoing change in the regional aviation landscape. [2]
Muscat Authorities to Examine Ransom Calls in Missing Indian Captain Case
Authorities in Muscat have agreed to examine claims that ransom calls were made to the family of Indian merchant navy Captain Ashish Kumar, who has been missing since his vessel came under a drone attack in the Strait of Hormuz. The case has reached India's Supreme Court, where the captain's wife filed a plea seeking assistance in tracing her husband and requesting an investigation into ransom demands the family reportedly received after his disappearance. Adding to the family's anguish, a DNA test on remains that were examined returned a negative result, confirming those remains did not belong to Captain Kumar and leaving his fate unresolved. The involvement of Muscat's authorities is significant because any trail relating to the ransom calls — whether the callers operated out of or communicated through Oman — would fall within their jurisdiction. Live Law reported that Muscat authorities have now committed to examining the claims, a step that the captain's family and their legal representatives are expected to treat as an important development in an otherwise harrowing wait for answers. The Strait of Hormuz is among the most critical maritime passages in the world, and incidents involving Indian seafarers in the region carry implications for India-Gulf relations and for the hundreds of thousands of Indian nationals employed across the regional shipping industry. The captain's case, involving the Supreme Court of India and now the cooperation of Omani authorities, remains open. [3]
Sources: [1] Muscat Daily · [2] Wego Travel Blog · [3] Live Law