Under the bright UAE lights, Jatinder Singh will walk out carrying a burden he has never shouldered before: the hopes of an Oman side stepping into uncharted territory.

For the Ludhiana-born cricketer who moved to Oman as a teenager, this Asia Cup is more than just another tournament—it is both a personal milestone and a historic leap for Omani cricket.

Once a boy who dreamt of facing India and Pakistan, Jatinder now stands as captain, entrusted with leading a new-look squad against two of the biggest forces in world cricket.

The road to this moment has been anything but smooth. A year ago, a bitter fallout between the Oman Cricket Board and its players tore through the camp, with 11 members of the T20 World Cup squad suspended following central contract disputes. From that turbulence emerged Jatinder, the team’s most prolific run-scorer, chosen to chart a revival.

He succeeds Zeeshan Maqsood, the stalwart who spent more than a decade shaping Oman’s rise from obscurity. But unlike in 2016, when Oman bowed out in the qualifiers, the team this time will walk into the Asia Cup main round as debutants—drawn alongside India, Pakistan, and the UAE in Group A. Their campaign begins on 12th September in Dubai, with Pakistan as their opening test.

For Jatinder, this is not just another series—it marks the beginning of a new era and a chance to prove that Oman belongs on cricket’s biggest stage. Having already featured in two T20 World Cups and with more than 1,300 international runs to his name, he understands the weight of responsibility on his shoulders.

While speaking to India Today Jatinder sums up his mission: ‘My aim is to make Oman proud at the Asia Cup.’