SOHAR Port and Freezone has joined hands with Oman Cricket to sponsor the forthcoming ICC Men’s T-20  World Cup, taking place in Oman and the UAE between 17 October and 14 November 2021. His Excellency Abdulsalam Al Murshidi, Minister of Oman Investment Authority, His Excellency Basil Bid Ahmed Al Rawas, Undersecretary of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth attended the signing ceremony in preparation to kick-off  the first global event to be held in Oman. 

Omar Mahmood Al Mahrizi, CEO of SOHAR Freezone and Deputy CEO of SOHAR Port, said, “This is a lifetime opportunity for Oman to host such a prestigious event and a milestone in our nation’s sporting history. SOHAR Port and Freezone always prioritises sports, health and cultural activities and we are proud to contribute to a thriving local community through sport. SOHAR’s name will be seen around the world as we reach new audiences and further position the port and freezone as one of the fastest-growing complexes of its kind.”

In his comments, Pankaj Khimji, Chairman, Oman Cricket Board, said: “The ICC T20 World Cup 2021 is a landmark event to be hosted in the Sultanate of Oman. To have leading corporates such as SOHAR Port and Freezone as one of our partners for the World Cup event is a huge endorsement of their commitment to help gain recognition for Cricket in the country. Oman Cricket Board and SOHAR Port and Freezone share a common vision to take Oman cricket to new heights, and this partnership is the first step in achieving that.”

The Cricket Academy Ground in Al Amerat will host all Group B games, which includes the Omani national team, Bangladesh, Scotland and Papua New Guinea. The top two teams in the group will advance to the second round, known as the ‘Super 12’ where they would meet one of eight already-qualified cricketing superpowers including India, Australia, England, New Zealand, Pakistan, Afghanistan, South Africa and The West Indies.

The bi-annual competition, featuring 16 of the world’s best cricket teams, is expected to be watched by a global television audience of 3.5 billion people. Muscat was named as one of the host cities alongside Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah after the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed the tournament would be rescheduled, presenting the perfect opportunity to showcase Oman to nearly half of the world’s population.

SOHAR Port and Freezone sits at the crossroads of East-West trade and has become the gateway for consumer goods, food imports and industrial supplies into Oman and the gulf region. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it offers a myriad of incentives for businesses and investors, including easy set-up facilities and a One-Stop-Shop for regulatory procedures. Plans are underway to expand the Port and Freezone in order to attract new investors industries to the complex while introducing energy-efficiency measures to make operations more environmentally friendly.

For more information on SOHAR Port and Freezone, please visit soharportandfreezone.com

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