Reports: Inaugural edition of Seniors World Cup to be hosted in Pakistan, PVCA confirms

It has been reportedly confirmed that Pakistan has got the hosting rights for the inaugural edition of the Seniors Over 40 Cricket World Cup that is scheduled to take place from September 23 to October 8 next year. The news has officially been confirmed by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA).

According to reports in A Sports, a total of 12 teams out of the 14 registered nations will participate in the global tournament including Pakistan, India, Australia, England, New Zealand, West Indies, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Canada, USA, Zimbabwe, Wales, Namibia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

An innings of the Seniors World Cup will consist of 45 overs: PVCA Chairman Fawad Ijaz Khan

“Test cricketers Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan, Muhammad Hafeez, and others over 40 years of age will also be seen in action, Fawad Ijaz stated.

“An innings of the Seniors World Cup will consist of 45 overs. The matches will be played at six different grounds in Karachi,” he shared.

“Day and night matches will also be played during the World Cup. The finals of the event will be telecasted live,” Fawad Ijaz concluded.

Out of those veteran cricketing superstars, only Shoaib Malik is still an active cricketer who is going strong for the Men In Green having made his international debut way back in 1999. All-rounder Mohammad Hafeez had announced his retirement earlier this year.

While Shahid Afridi and Younis Khan’s inclusion will be a morale-booster for Pakistan, it now remains to be seen whether the other members of their age group including the likes of Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Akhtar, Misbah-ul-Haq, Imran Nazir, Abdul Razzaq will also be included in the squad. While it has been confirmed by the PVCA that players above the age of 40 will be selected, the other big names of Pakistan cricket are yet to be named officially.

Meanwhile, the retired cricketers of India and Pakistan would be hoping to renew their rivalry on the field once again.