• Omani leader Sultan Qaboos bin Said attends the opening of the Gulf Cooperation Council summit in 2007. AFP
    Omani leader Sultan Qaboos bin Said attends the opening of the Gulf Cooperation Council summit in 2007. AFP
  • Oman's Sultan Qaboos walks with UAE President Sheikh Zayed in Sohar, Oman, in 1999. Wam / AFP
    Oman's Sultan Qaboos walks with UAE President Sheikh Zayed in Sohar, Oman, in 1999. Wam / AFP
  • Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, left, meets with Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Sultan of Oman, during an official visit to Oman in 2013. Ryan Carter / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
    Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, left, meets with Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Sultan of Oman, during an official visit to Oman in 2013. Ryan Carter / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
  • United Arab Emirates's President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, right, walks with Oman's leader Sultan Qaboos bin Said upon his arrival to Al Ain Airport in 2011. Wam
    United Arab Emirates's President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, right, walks with Oman's leader Sultan Qaboos bin Said upon his arrival to Al Ain Airport in 2011. Wam
  • Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid and Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman held talks on bilateral ties at the Zabeel Palace in Dubai in 2012. Wam
    Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid and Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman held talks on bilateral ties at the Zabeel Palace in Dubai in 2012. Wam
  • Sultan Qaboos bin Said in 1975. AP Photo
    Sultan Qaboos bin Said in 1975. AP Photo
  • Oman's Sultan Qaboos Bin Said is pictured during a cabinet meeting at the royal palace in Muscat. Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79. AFP
    Oman's Sultan Qaboos Bin Said is pictured during a cabinet meeting at the royal palace in Muscat. Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79. AFP
  • Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said welcomes Britain's Queen Elizabeth II upon her arrival at Muscat in 2010. Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79. AFP
    Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said welcomes Britain's Queen Elizabeth II upon her arrival at Muscat in 2010. Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79. AFP
  • Jordan's King Abdullah welcomes Sultan Qaboos of Oman on his arrival at Aqaba airport in 1999. Reuters
    Jordan's King Abdullah welcomes Sultan Qaboos of Oman on his arrival at Aqaba airport in 1999. Reuters
  • Sultan Qaboos of Oman escorts US President Bill Clinton upon his arrival to Oman airport. Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79. AFP
    Sultan Qaboos of Oman escorts US President Bill Clinton upon his arrival to Oman airport. Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79. AFP
  • Sultan Qaboos bin Said greets French President Nicolas Sarkozy upon his arrival in Muscat. Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79. AFP
    Sultan Qaboos bin Said greets French President Nicolas Sarkozy upon his arrival in Muscat. Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79. AFP
  • The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo with Oman's Sultan Qaboos during a recent visit to Muscat. Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79. AP
    The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo with Oman's Sultan Qaboos during a recent visit to Muscat. Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79. AP
  • Sultan Qaboos Bin Said of Oman attending the country's National Day in Muscat. Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79. AFP
    Sultan Qaboos Bin Said of Oman attending the country's National Day in Muscat. Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79. AFP
  • Portrait of Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, the Sultan of Muscat and Oman, in military uniform, circa 1970. Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79. Getty Images
    Portrait of Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, the Sultan of Muscat and Oman, in military uniform, circa 1970. Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79. Getty Images
  • Omani Sultan Qaboos greets South African President Nelson Mandela in 1999 upon his arrival in Muscat at the start of a short tour of the Gulf to promote investments in South Africa. Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79. AFP
    Omani Sultan Qaboos greets South African President Nelson Mandela in 1999 upon his arrival in Muscat at the start of a short tour of the Gulf to promote investments in South Africa. Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79. AFP
  • Queen Elizabeth II walks with the Sultan of Oman, His Majesty Qaboos bin Said Al Said, after arriving in Muscat, Oman in 2010. Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79. Getty Images
    Queen Elizabeth II walks with the Sultan of Oman, His Majesty Qaboos bin Said Al Said, after arriving in Muscat, Oman in 2010. Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79. Getty Images
  • Sultan Qaboos of Oman has returning home after traveling to Belgium for a medical check-up. Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79. AP
    Sultan Qaboos of Oman has returning home after traveling to Belgium for a medical check-up. Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79. AP

Cricket

UAE cricket match against Oman called off following death of Sultan Qaboos

Oman were hosting a triangular series involving UAE and Namibia, as part of Cricket World Cup League Two

Paul Radley
Paul Radley
Dubai

January 11, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

UAE’s one-day international against Oman has been cancelled because of the death of Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the Omani leader.

The ruler's death was announced on Friday night, with the declaration of an official mourning period of three days.

Many of Muscat’s roads, including Sultan Qaboos Street which is the main motorway passing through the capital city, were closed on Saturday morning.

The country’s cricket team are hosting a triangular series involving UAE and Namibia, as part of Cricket World Cup League Two.

The road closures left the teams consigned to their hotel, as they awaited official word from government authorities as well as the International Cricket Council as to whether the match could go ahead.

It was subsequently confirmed the game had been called off.

  • Omanis bid farewell to their leader during the funeral procession for Sultan Qaboos. AFP / Oman TV
    Omanis bid farewell to their leader during the funeral procession for Sultan Qaboos. AFP / Oman TV
  • People attend a funeral service for Sultan Qaboos, at the Grand Mosque that bears his name in Muscat. Oman TV via AP
    People attend a funeral service for Sultan Qaboos, at the Grand Mosque that bears his name in Muscat. Oman TV via AP
  • Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, left, offers condolences to Sultan Haitham in Muscat. MBZ/Twitter
    Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, left, offers condolences to Sultan Haitham in Muscat. MBZ/Twitter
  • Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed with Sultan Haitham. Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed with Sultan Haitham. Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Prayers and funeral rites are held for Sultan Qaboos. AFP / Oman TV
    Prayers and funeral rites are held for Sultan Qaboos. AFP / Oman TV
  • Oman's newly sworn-in Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said carries the coffin of his cousin, Sultan Qaboos, during the funeral in Muscat. Reuters
    Oman's newly sworn-in Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said carries the coffin of his cousin, Sultan Qaboos, during the funeral in Muscat. Reuters
  • Members of the Omani military carry the coffin of Sultan Qaboos. AFP
    Members of the Omani military carry the coffin of Sultan Qaboos. AFP
  • Omanis take part in the funeral of Sultan Qaboos at the Grand Mosque in the capital Muscat. AFP
    Omanis take part in the funeral of Sultan Qaboos at the Grand Mosque in the capital Muscat. AFP
  • The coffin is carried to the Grand Mosque. Oman TV via AP
    The coffin is carried to the Grand Mosque. Oman TV via AP
  • Sultan Haitham arrives at the Grand Mosque for the funeral. AFP / Oman TV
    Sultan Haitham arrives at the Grand Mosque for the funeral. AFP / Oman TV
  • A motorcade carries the body of Sultan Qaboos. Oman TV via AP
    A motorcade carries the body of Sultan Qaboos. Oman TV via AP
  • Sultan Qaboos had ruled Oman for almost 50 years, after coming to power in 1970. Oman TV via AP
    Sultan Qaboos had ruled Oman for almost 50 years, after coming to power in 1970. Oman TV via AP
  • People gather in front of the Sultan Qaboos Mosque to perform funeral prayers. AFP
    People gather in front of the Sultan Qaboos Mosque to perform funeral prayers. AFP
  • The streets of Muscat were packed as Omanis grieved over the death of Sultan Qaboos. AFP
    The streets of Muscat were packed as Omanis grieved over the death of Sultan Qaboos. AFP
  • Authorities declared a 40-day mourning period in the country. AFP
    Authorities declared a 40-day mourning period in the country. AFP
  • Omanis gather to enter the Sultan Qaboos Mosque to perform funeral prayers. AFP
    Omanis gather to enter the Sultan Qaboos Mosque to perform funeral prayers. AFP
  • People walk towards the Sultan Qaboos Mosque to perform the funeral prayers. AFP
    People walk towards the Sultan Qaboos Mosque to perform the funeral prayers. AFP
  • The Omani flag is seen at half-mast in the capital Muscat. AFP
    The Omani flag is seen at half-mast in the capital Muscat. AFP

The match was UAE's last scheduled fixture in the week-long series. They won two matches against Namibia, having lost the opening game against Oman.

Their next assignment in the competition is an away series in the United States in March, also involving Scotland.

MuscatCricketScotlandOman