Assarain CT has been a dominant force in the domestic top-flight cricket over the recent years and has been one of the teams that have sent in a number of players to the national side. 

The team, which is missing in action in the current season, received the winner’s trophy for the 2019-20 Premier Division at the Oman Cricket (OC) awards, held at the Oman Cricket Academy ground on Tuesday.

Vinu Mathew, the long-serving manager of the team, along with captain Gustav Burger, received the trophy from the chief guest, H H Sayyid Qais al Said, OC vice-chairman.

Held over three days to avoid large gatherings, the annual OC awards ceremony this time, is a sedate affair due to the coronavirus pandemic. Sayyid Qais along with OC secretary Madhu Jesrani were present to honour the first batch of awardees on Tuesday with Passage to India Al Sawadi’s Khawar Ali named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the season.

Speaking to Muscat Daily, Mathew said, “It is a great feeling to receive the trophy along with captain Gustav. We worked hard over the years and the success in recent times has been due to the strong backing from our management. 

“The trophy is another glorious addition to our bulging cabinet as over the recent years, we have been winning quite a handful of them, thanks to our 

talented players.

“This is our third title since 2016-17 and though we are not playing this season, nine of our players are with other top-flight teams and have also bagged Oman Cricket contract.”

Mathew said that he was unable to comment on whether the team will make their return for the next season. “A better idea on our team’s comeback would be possible only next July,” he said.

Passage to India (PTI), which received the Premier Division runner-up trophy on Tuesday, had a reason to cheer as the team’s allrounder Khawar picked up the most coveted individual award of the 2019-20 season.

PTI, like Assarain, have also pulled out of the 2020-21 season but Khawar, has continued with his rich form from last season with his new employers – IT Works – this season as he played  a lead role in IT Works’ win over AER on Saturday. 

Akshay Patel of Al Turki NMC was adjudged the Premier Division’s best batsman while Waseem Akhtar of IT Works won the best bowler award. 

Sanuth Ebrahim of Assarain and Samay Shrivastav of Muscat claimed consolation prizes in batting and bowling respectively.

A Division toppers Arm Alpha and AER were presented the winner and runner-up trophies. Danish Mohammed of AER received the best batsman award while the best bowler prize went to Chetan Mallya of Arm Alpha.

ACT’s Hafiz Irfan, Zubair Akbar al Balushi (OCT Ruwi) and Abdul Naveed Abdul Majeed (PDORC) won the best batsman, bowler and allrounder awards respectively in the B Division.

Special awards were presented to Omani players. Waleed Rahim al Balushi received the best batsman prize in a category where an Omani represented more than one team. The best bowler award went to Shareef al Balushi while Rafeeq al Balushi received the best allrounder prize. The category where an Omani played for only one team had Salim al Balushi of OCT Maabela scoop the best batsman award while Mohammed Aslam al Balushi claimed the best bowler prize. 

In the Senior Cup knockout, Zubair CT and LC Tech were named joint winners while in the Junior Cup, Design Group and GITACS were declared joint winners. ACT and Basta took the top-two awards in B Division.