On the field, Qais Khalid Al Said is like any other Omani cricketer.
The big man with headband on his bald head is always longing to contribute for his team’s victory. Off the field, however, he is His Highness, the cousin of the Sultan of Oman and bloodline of the Al Bu Sa’idi dynasty, the oldest monarchy in the world.
His Highness Qais Khalid Al Said of Oman during ACC T20 Cup in Kathmandu. Photo by PhotoEverest.com
Al Said, 33, is a medium pace bowler and bats lower down the order; but his contribution to the cricket doesn’t end at the field. He is also the vice-president of the Oman Cricket and is determined to take cricket in his country, where mainly expatriates play the game, to a next level.
“In Oman cricket is not a big sport and only expatriates play the game. There are only two Omanis in the team right now,” Al Said, who is currently in Nepal with the team to compete in the ACC Twenty20 Cup, said. “But I hope to popularize the game and attract more Omani players into it.”
Al Said learnt cricket in his early days when he studied at Oxford, UK and played junior county cricket. Later, he moved to Millfield School, a school in Somerset that is world-renowned as a sports school.
“At the age of 16, I was in the school’s first team and opened bowling with Simon Jones,” Al Said said. Jones later played for England and was a part of Ashes winning English team in 2005.
The proud moment of his early day cricket is also associated with a famous English cricketer. “My claim to fame was bowling out Mark Trescothick for a duck during a junior game with Somerset,” he recalled.
Al Said fielding during a match in Kathmandu. Photo by PhotoEverest.com
He also used to play football. He moved to USA after receiving a football scholarship and didn’t play cricket for 13 years. His passion for cricket got revived after he returned Oman two years ago.
Al Said wishes to play cricket as long as his body allows because he thinks it’s an honor to play for ones country.
“I want to ensure that our children have someone to look up to and idolize” said Al Said looking out with dreams in his eyes–the dream to see Oman with Omani players competing with the established Test nations.