Lahore Lions outshine Karachi in final to clinch National Veterans (Over 50) Cup 2024

Pakistan News & Features Services

Lahore Lions clinched the 8th National Veterans (Over 50) Cup 2024 Cricket Tournament as they outwitted Karachi by 102 runs in the final at Shah Faisal Ground, Lahore, on September 29. The event was organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA). 

Lahore Lions and Karachi had advanced to the final after having emerged the champions in their respective groups at the end of the league rounds. Lahore Panthers, Multan Whites, Sialkot, Gujrat, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were the other six participating teams in the tournament whose matches were played at Lahore and Sialkot. 

The Karachi skipper, Fawad Barry, chose to field first after winning the toss in the final. After seeing off the seamers, the home side batted solidly against the spinners. The opening pair of Khalid Saleem (53 off 52 balls) and Mohsin Aftab (23 off 27 balls) picked up the rate of scoring while adding 83 for first wicket in 12.3 overs. 

The momentum was sustained by Jamshed Ali (54 off 51 balls) and Imtiaz Tarar (31 off 47 balls) and the late flourish was provided by Afzal Shah (37 off 24 balls) and Javed Hafeez (32 off 22 balls) lifted the total to an imposing 273 for seven in the allotted 40 overs. Left-arm spinner Jaffer Qureshi (3-50) and off-spinner Asif Mughal (2-37) were the pick of the Karachi bowlers. 

Set a daunting target of 274 to lift the trophy, Karachi lost wickets upfront and fell behind the clock. Having slumped to 52 for five in the 12th over, they showed some fight through middle-order batsmen, Ahmed Hayat (37 off 42 balls), Rizwan Qureshi (29 off 32 balls), Asif Siddiqui (22 off 31 balls) and Jaffer Qureshi (21 off 39 balls). 

The spin trio of Jamshed Ali (2-4), Nadeem Boota (2-20) and Javed Hafeez (2-22) bowled Karachi out for 171 in 36.4 overs to ensure a coming victory for Lahore Lions. 

Amer Ilyas Butt, Chief Executive Officer, PVCA, was the guest of honour in the presentation ceremony, held at the ground soon after conclusion of the final. He gave away the trophies as well as the individual prizes to the outstanding performers of the event. 

The winners’ trophy was collected by the Lahore Lions captain, Mohsin Aftab, while the runners-up trophy was awarded to the Karachi skipper, Fawad Barry. Jamshed Ali of Lahore Lions was declared Man of the Match of the final.

The organizers were lauded for doing a great job which ensured a full game in the final, which had looked unlikely after the heavy rains a couple of days ago which washed out both the last round matches in Lahore.

readmore »»

Lahore Lions, Karachi storm into final of 8th National Veterans (Over 50) Cup

Pakistan News & Features Services

Lahore Lions and Karachi stormed into the final of the 8th National Veterans (Over 50) Cup 2024 Cricket Tournament 2024, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), at the end of the league matches on September 27. The final is scheduled to be contested on September 29. 

Heavy rains washed out both the third round matches at Lahore and only one of the games, which was also shortened, was possible at Sialkot. In the only completed match of the day, Karachi overwhelmed Sialkot by six wickets to book their slot in the final. 

Lahore Lions cruised into the final by becoming the Group A champions with five points, while Lahore Panthers and Multan Whites could secure only three points and Balochistan ended last with a solitary point. Karachi topped Group B by winning all three matches which earned them six points. 

Sialkot finished runners-up with four points while Gujrat and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) claimed a point each. 

The start to the match between Karachi and Sialkot was delayed by more than an hour to make the conditions playable at Faraz Sports Ground, Sialkot. It was decided to reduce it to 20-overs-a-side contest and Karachi chose to bowl first after calling correctly. 

Sialkot got off a cracking start through the opening pair of Muhammad Mannan (29 off 17 balls) and Mirza Asif (14 off 13 balls) as they added 39 for first wicket in only 3.5 overs. 

Number three Muhammad Sohail (39 off 26 balls) sustained the momentum but the spin trio of Rizwan Qureshi (4-17), Jaffer Qureshi (2-13) and Sharafat Hussain (2-17) bowled superbly to restrict the home side to 130 for nine in the allotted 20 overs. 

Openers Fawad Barry (21 off 22 balls) and Irfan Ali Khan (17 off 10 balls) provided Karachi a promising start in pursuit of the target of 131 but the game opened up when they lost quick wickets to be reduced to 58 for four in the 10th over. The unbroken 73-run fifth wicket stand between Iqbal Shaikh (40 off 33 balls) and Asif Siddiqui (35 off 23 balls), however, got them home with three overs to spare. 

Lahore Lions was happily placed against Lahore Panthers when heavy rains arrived to force an abandonment of their last league encounter at Shah Faisal Ground. 

Put into bat in overcast conditions, Lahore Lions did well to reach a total of 125 for two in 18.4 at which point the rains, with strong winds and thundershowers, lashed the ground. Ishtiaq Ahmed (38 off 35 balls) and Jamshed Ali (34 off 44 balls) were firmly in control when the match was halted, having added 69 for the unbroken third wicket stand. 

Opener Khalid Saleem set the tone with a fluent 33 off 24 balls, striking six boundaries. Both the wickets were captured by leg-spinner Rauf Wyne. 

The match between Multan Whites and Balochistan at Cricket Centre Ground, Lahore was evenly poised when called off due to heavy downpour. The Balochistan skipper, Azizullah, opted to to bat first after winning the toss despite the heavy atmosphere. 

Junaid Nainintalwala led the charge from the outset, scoring 39 off 42 balls with the help of five boundaries. He dominated the 39-run opening stand with Zafar Hussain, who made 12 off 32 balls. 

Multan Whites pulled it back through the spin trio of Asif Shah, Daud Yousuf and Zubair Hussain, who picked up a wicket each besides choking the flow of runs. Balochistan moved to 78 for three at the end of 18 overs when the action stopped for the day.

readmore »»

Lahore Lions, Multan Whites, Karachi and Sialkot emerge victorious in second round of 8th National Veterans (Over 50) Cup

Pakistan News & Features Services

Lahore Lions, Multan Whites, Karachi and Sialkot emerged victorious over their respective opponents in the second round of the 8th National Veterans (Over 50) Cup 2024 Cricket Tournament 2024, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA). 

Lahore Lions outsmarted Balochistan by 180 runs at Shah Faisal Ground, Lahore, Multan Whites surprised Lahore Panthers by 11 runs at Cricket Centre Ground, Lahore, Sialkot defeated Khyber Pakhthunkhwa (KPK) by seven wickets at Faraz Sports Ground, Sialkot, and Karachi overcame Gujrat by seven wickets at CA Gold Cricket Ground, Sialkot. 

With two successive victories, Lahore Lions lead the points table in Group A while Lahore Panthers and Multan Whites, having won and lost a game each, placed next. Sialkot and Karachi share top slot in Group B, having won both their matches. The last round of league matches will be held on September 27 and the two team from each group will qualify for the final scheduled to be held on September 29. 

Lahore Lions proved too good for Balochistan while hammering them by a staggering margin of 180 runs. Getting off a rollicking start with openers Mohsin Aftab (106 off 135 balls) and Khalid Saleem (57 off 45 balls) adding 118 runs for the first wicket in 15 overs, the home side pressed the accelerator in the last 10 overs with Ishtiaq Ahmed (106 off 74 balls) and Imtiaz Tarar (56 off 30 balls) adding 122 for third wicket to liftthe total to a mammoth 347 for two in the allotted 40 overs. 

Balochistan folded while chasing the colossal target of 348. Opener Junaid Nainitalwala (49 off 69 balls) and Raju Gulfam (50 off 48 balls) were the only batters to offer resistance as their side was bowled out for 167 in 39.3 overs. The spin trio of Rehan Rauf (3-44), Asif Iqbal (2-1) and Imtiaz Tarar (2-38) shared the bowling honours. 

Multan Whites registered a thrilling 11-run victory over Lahore Panthers. Useful contributions from Muhammad Ashraf (65 off 71 balls), Asif Shah (59 off 33 balls), Raja Arshad (35 off 35 balls) and Chaudhary Haroon (33 off 58 balls) enabled Multan Whites to post a respectable total of 245 for five in the stipulated 40 overs, despite fine bowling from left-arm spinner Naved Sufi (2-28) and leg-spinner Rauf Wyne (2-55). 

Salman Khan (47 off 58 balls) and Hammad Maqbool (23 off 47 balls) laid a solid foundation for the Panthers before a mini-collapse opened up the contest. They recovered through middle-order batters Jamshed Suleman (49 off 34 balls) and Babar Butt (33 off 32 balls) but another rush of wickets saw them struggling. Even Sarwar Bhatti’s unbeaten 25 off 20 balls could not take them over the line. Left-arm medium-pacer Atif Khan (4-42) and left-arm spinner Asif Shah (2-51) were instrumental in bowling out the Panthers for 234 in 38.5 overs. 

Sialkot registered a cakewalk seven-wicket victory over KPK. Leg-spinner Muhammad Mannan’s five-wicket haul sent KPK crashing to 203 all out in 39.4 overs despite fighting knocks fro Nasrullah (52 off 50 balls), Arshad Ali (32 off 21 balls), Saifullah Khan (27 off 34 balls), Aurangzeb Khan (26 off 39 balls) and Abdul Wasay (24 off 19 balls). 

Muhammad Mannan then showed his prowess with the bat as he blasted 42 off 31 balls when opening the Sialkot innings. The momentum was sustained by Umair Ashraf, who returned unconquered on 74 off 37 balls, hitting five sixes and seven fours as the target was reached with 15 overs to spare. 

Karachi proved too hot to handle for Gujrat, trouncing them by seven wickets quite comfortably. Batting first, Gujrat was bowled out for 217 in 39.3 overs with Javed Ijaz Butt (43 off 71 balls), Rizwan Yousuf (39 off 45 balls), Ghulam Abbas (34 off 25 balls) and Nisar Ahmed (30 off 18 balls) being the principal scorers as the innings was rocked by medium-pacer Fawad Barry (3-66) and left-arm spinners Sharafat Hussain (2-29) and Jaffer Qureshi (2-34). 

Openers Irfan Ali Khan (61 off 45 balls) and Shahid Dawood (30 off 33 balls) put Karachi in the driving seat by adding 91 runs for the first wicket p in just 11.3 overs. The demolition job was completed by Muhammad Javed (47 off 36 balls) and Azhar Khan (37 off 21 balls) who added 79 in only eight overs for the unbroken fourth wicket stand to take their side to victory with seven wickets 13.3 overs in hand.

readmore »»

Lahore Lions, Lahore Panthers, Karachi and Sialkot triumph in opening round of 8th National Veterans (Over 50) Cup

Pakistan News & Features Services

Lahore Lions, Lahore Panthers, Karachi and Sialkot triumphed over their respective opponents in the opening round matches of the 8th National Veterans (Over 50) Cup 2024 Cricket Tournament 2024, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), on September 23. 

Lahore Lions defeated Multan by 100 runs at Shah Faisal Ground, Lahore, Lahore Panthers whipped Balochistan by 247 runs at Cricket Centre Ground, Lahore, Karachi overpowered Khyber Pakhthunkhwa (KPK) by 222 runs at CA Gold Cricket Ground, Sialkot, and Sialkot outsmarted Gujrat by five wickets at Faraz Sports Ground, Sialkot. 

Put into bat, Lahore Lions posted a formidable total of 280 for five in the allotted 40 overs with major contributions coming from opener Imtiaz Tarar (77 off 79 balls) and Ishtiaq Ahmed (81 off 75 balls). 

Chasing a stiff target of 281, Multan lost wickets at regular intervals despite resistance offered by opener Raja Arshad, who scored 63 off 66 balls with the help of a six and 11 fours. Multan was bowled out for 180 in 39 overs with left-arm spinners Nadeem Boota (3-20) and Rehan Rauf (2-36) being the pick of the home bowlers. 

Khurram Afzal’s stunning all-round performance powered Lahore Panthers to an incredible win over Balochistan. Coming in to bat at number seven, he whacked two sixes and 15 fours in his unbeaten 96 off 46 runs which propelled the Lahore Panthers total to 323 for seven in the stipulated 40 overs. 

Babar Butt (55 off 53 balls), Jamshed Sulaiman (38 off 37 balls) and Salman Khan (30 off 43 balls) also contributed their bit with the bat to counter fine bowling by the spin duo of Anis-ur-Rahman (3-49) and Raju Ghufran (2-45). 

Opening the bowling, Khurram Afzal also snared a couple of top-order wickets and Balochistan could not recover from early shocks to be bundled out for 76 in 28.4 overs. Shakeel Ahmed (18 off 53 balls), Junaid Nainitalwala (13 off 19 balls) and Azizullah (11 off 17 balls) were the only batters to enter double figures as the innings was rocked by leg-spinner Rauf Wyne (4-16). 

Muhammad Javed’s blazing century helped Karachi overwhelm KPK by 222 runs. The 132-run second wicket partnership between opener Irfan Ali Khan (76 off 46 balls) and Iqbal Shaikh (80 off 84 balls) laid the foundation for a mammoth total and Muhammad Javed rose to the occasion by hammering nine sixes and seven fours in his exhilarating knock of 113, coming from only 56 balls. Asif Khan made 40 off 30 balls as Karachi succeeded in installing a huge score of 360 for seven in the stipulated 40 overs. 

The KPK batters succumbed to the scoreboard pressure and the contributions from opener Nasrullah Khan (26 off 17 balls) and Aurangzeb (24 off 27 balls) could not change the course of the proceedings. 

The spin quartet of Asif Mughal (3-17), Jaffer Qureshi (3-32), Sharafat Hussain (2-23) and Rizwan Qureshi (2-27) sent KPK tumbling to 138 all out in 32.3 overs. 

Sialkot performed brilliantly to outsmart Gujrat by five wickets. Electing to bat, Gujrat posted a total of 177 for eight in the allotted 40 overs with opener Aziz Baig holding the innings together with an unbeaten 101 off 110 balls, hitting four sixes and six fours. He didn’t get much support from the other end as the trio of Muhammad Mannan (3-27), Aamir Iqbal (2-24) and Muhammad Aslam (2-32) kept picking wickets regularly. 

Sialkot needed just 19.5 overs to reach the target of 178 although they lost five wickets in the bargain. Openers Mirza Asif (60 off 46 balls) and Asif Humayun (22 off 19 balls) started power-hitting from the outset and the momentum was sustained by number three Muhammad Mannan (44 off 29 balls) and Muhammad Sohail (22 off 11 balls). 

After scoring 76 in the first 10 overs, the home side scored more than 100 in the next 9.5 overs. Haji Javed picked up three wickets for Gujrat, giving away 65 runs in his quota of eight overs. 

The tournament is being played on single league basis and the eight participating teams have been divided equally into two groups. The Group A comprises of Lahore Lions, Lahore Panthers, Balochistan and Multan while the Group B contains Sialkot, Gujrat, Khyber Pakhthunkhwa and Karachi. The league matches will conclude on September 27 and the two top team from each group will qualify for the final scheduled to be held on September 29.

readmore »»

PVCA Chairman calls on Sindh Sports Minister

Pakistan News & Features Services

The Chairman of the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), Fawad Ijaz Khan, called on the Sindh Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Sardar Muhammad Bux Khan Mahar, in Karachi on July 29. 

Matters relating to IMC Over-40s T20 Cricket World Cup, scheduled to be staged in Karachi from August 18 to 30, 2025, were discussed in detail as the Sindh Government has been approached to extend its support to the mega event. 

As many as 16 top playing nations have been invited to participate in the Over-40s World Cup which is expected to feature quite a few former cricketers of Pakistan and other countries. All the matches, to be beamed live, are planned to be held at the National Stadium in Karachi. 

The Sindh Sports Minister assured the PVCA Chairman of total support from the provincial government in all areas concerning the organization of the World Cup, particularly providing security to the foreign players. 

On the occasion, Fawad Ijaz Khan presented a memento to Sardar Muhammad Bux Khan Mahar, who was appreciative of the efforts of the PVCA in the promotion of cricket.

readmore »»

Pakistan, Australia and England emerge as top Over-60s sides in world cricket: Fawad Ijaz Khan

Pakistan News & Features Services

The Chairman of the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), Fawad Ijaz Khan, who has championed the cause of seniors’ cricket at international level, reckons that Pakistan, Australia and England have proved as top Over-60s sides in world cricket. 

Returning from two-week long tour of England, the PVCA Chairman on July 22 recalled that Pakistan announced its pedigree by winning the inaugural Over-60s World Cup at Brisbane while Australia claimed the title by outwitting England in the final of the 2nd World Cup at Chennai in which Pakistan could not participate due to non-issuance of visas by hosts India.

The Pakistan squad, it may be recalled, seemed set to defend their title on the Indian soil but it was not granted visa despite all out efforts by the PVCA.

“Now, England, by edging out Pakistan in the recently concluded five-match series, has emerged as a major Over-60s force. The PVCA has invited both Australia as well as England to play Over-60s bilateral series at mutually agreed time next year,” Fawad Ijaz Khan disclosed. 

He described the recently concluded tour of England as very successful in which the contestants played positive cricket all along in the right spirit of the gentleman’s game. 

“Our team was challenged by the cold weather of England as we had reached there from intense heat and humidity in this part of the world. Acclimatization was a factor which affected our players. Our cause was also not helped by losing every toss during the tour. England made the most of home advantage,” the PVCA Chairman added.

Fawad Ijaz Khan was a member of Pakistan Over-60s squad which undertook the recent tour of England. Nadeem Omar, owner of Quetta Gladiators, captained the side which also contained Saleem Malik, a former Pakistan captain, besides Sajid Ali, Syed Saghir Abbas, Syed Muhammad Ghaffar Kazmi, Muhammad Younus, Tahir Rashid (wicketkeeper), Muhammad Ashraf Pakhali, Shahid Mahboob, Syed Muhammad Shahabuddin, Syed Zafar Ali, Aamir Hameed, Muhammad Yaqoob, Badar Ansari, Syed Mansoor Hussain, Tanvir Ali and Muhammad Akram while Zakir Baig was the manager.

readmore »»

Pakistan Over-60s return from England after closely-fought ODI series

Pakistan News & Features Services

The Pakistan Over-60s cricket squad returned to Karachi on July 20 after having completed two-week long tour of England where they were engaged in a closely-fought ODI series of five matches. It turned to be a very exciting series between two evenly-matched sides and its fate was hanging in balance until the final ball of the decisive fifth encounter. 

The rub of the green did not go Pakistan’s way as the home side, chasing a mammoth target of 317, scampered home with just a couple of wickets in hand, on the last ball to win the series 3-1 and claim the Royal Nawab Cup. Losing all five tosses didn’t help their cause either. 

Pakistan began the series on a winning note as they edged out the hosts by four wickets in the first ODI at Park Avenue Cricket Club, Bradford. The hosts squared the series by winning the second ODI by seven wickets at Davies/Worthington Memorial Ground while the third game was abandoned because of rain. 

The visitors regrouped quickly to overpower Lincolnshire by 37 runs in a side match at Sleaford Cricket Club Ground but they lost to England in the fourth ODI at the Southport and Birkdale Sports Club. They appeared favourites to level the series after posting a formidable total of 316 for four in the fifth ODI at Littleborough Cricket Club but went down fighting on the final delivery. 

Nadeem Omar, owner of Quetta Gladiators, captained the Pakistan Over-60s side which also featured Fawad Ijaz Khan, Chairman, PVCA, and Saleem Malik, a former Pakistan captain, besides Sajid Ali, Syed Saghir Abbas, Syed Muhammad Ghaffar Kazmi, Muhammad Younus, Tahir Rashid (wicketkeeper), Muhammad Ashraf Pakhali, Shahid Mahboob, Syed Muhammad Shahabuddin, Syed Zafar Ali, Aamir Hameed, Muhammad Yaqoob, Badar Ansari, Syed Mansoor Hussain, Tanvir Ali and Muhammad Akram while Zakir Baig was the manager.

readmore »»

England Over-60s register last-ball win against Pakistan Over-60s in 5th ODI despite centuries by Sajid Ali, Sagheer Abbas

Pakistan News & Features Services

England Over-60s registered a thrilling two-wicket victory over Pakistan Over-60s on the last ball of the fifth and final ODI at Littleborough Cricket Club on July 19. The hosts collected the Royal Nawab Cup as they won the series 3-1 with the third game having been abandoned because of rain on July 15. 

Set a daunting target of 317 in 45 overs, England overcame a late order collapse to reach it on the final delivery. At 289 for four, they appeared coasting towards a comfortable win but the loss of a few quick wickets brought Pakistan back in contention. The fall of eighth wicket on the penultimate ball, with the scores tied, made the contest most exciting. Graham Shaw kept his cool on the final ball to get the winning single. 

The England skipper, Richard Merriman, who narrowly missed his century, had the consolation of receiving Player of the Match award ahead of centurions from Pakistan, Sajid Ali and Sagheer Abbas. Pakistan, captained by Saleem Malik, lost their fifth successive toss and they were inserted to bat on a relatively warm day with plenty of sunshine. After the early hiccups, the visiting batsmen got in their groove and runs flowed aplenty. 

Opener Sajid Ali led the charge with a magnificent 122 off 121 balls. He stabilized the innings by adding 85 for third wicket with Ghaffar Kazmi (42 off 46 balls) before engaging in 139-run fourth wicket partnership with Sagheer Abbas, who finished with unbeaten 110 off 78 balls. The onslaught in death overs took Pakistan to a commanding total of 316 for four in the allotted 45 overs. 

England, in reply, got off to a sedate start through the opening pair of Richard Merriman (96 off 101 balls) and Mel Hussain (36 off 38 balls). Number three Paul Radage contributed 33 off 42 balls but the knocks from middle-order batters Monty Douglas (60 off 43 balls), Philip Deikin (23 off 12 balls) and Jason Caunt (22 off 15 balls) which changed the complexion of the game. Leg-spinner Zafar Ali (3-42) and off-spinner Sagheer Abbas (2-62) kept the match the alive until Graham Shaw’s cameo (17 off nine balls) settled the issue.

readmore »»

Mel Hussain powers England Over-60s to 2-1 lead over Pakistan Over-60s

Pakistan News & Features Services

Mel Hussain’s brilliant all-round performance powered England Over-60s to a comfortable six-wicket victory over Pakistan Over-60s in the fourth ODI at the Southport and Birkdale Sports Club on July 17. The hosts now lead the five-match series being played for the Royal Nawab Cup 2-1 with the fifth and final encounter due to be contested on July 19. 

Electing to field, after winning the toss, England bowled Pakistan out for 188 in 42.1 overs despite stiff resistance from the low-order batters. The home side chased down the target of 189 in 45 overs with nearly seven overs to spare. 

Mel Hussain, younger brother of former England captain, Nasser Hussain, followed up his four-wicket haul with a solid knock of 81 to earn Player of the Match award which he received from the Pakistan captain, Nadeem Omar, in the presence of Fawad Ijaz Khan, Chairman, Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA). 

Batting first in challenging conditions, the top-order visiting batsmen were unable to occupy the crease for long duration of time and they looked heading towards a low total when Saleem Malik, a former Pakistan captain and a batting great, was run out for six in the 16th over. The visitors, however, rallied to reach a fighting total of 188 from 60 for six with Sagheer Abbas (40 off 55 balls), Tahir Rasheed (25 off 44 balls) and Shahid Mahboob (23 off 16 balls) showing resilience. Mel Hussain (4-20) and Jason Caunt (3-20) were the pick of England bowlers.

Opening the innings, Mel Hussain anchored the chase with a solid 81 off 113 balls. He was fourth batsman to be dismissed in the 36th over with the home side just a handful of runs away from completing victory. Jason Caunt’s breezy unbeaten 48 off 26 balls took England home on the first ball of 38th over. 

With the third ODI between the two teams having been abandoned due to rain, England have taken an unassailable 2-1 lead in the series by winning the fourth game. Pakistan, who won the first match, need to emerge triumphant in the fifth and final fixture to square matters to share the trophy.

readmore »»

Pakistan Over-60s outsmart Lincolnshire by 37 runs on England tour

Pakistan News & Features Services

Pakistan Over-60s, displaying all-round prowess, outgunned Lincolnshire by 37 runs in a side match during their ongoing tour of England. Batting first, the visitors posted a mammoth total of 294 for seven in the allotted 45 overs before restricting the county side to 257 for five at Sleaford Cricket Club Ground on July 14. 

The five-match ODI series between Pakistan Over-60s and England Over-60s for Royal Nawab Trophy is currently locked at one-all. Pakistan emerged triumphant in the opening fixture but the hosts rallied back to run away with the second match. The remaining three encounters are also expected to be closely-fought. 

Pakistan Over-60s, in view of managing workload during marathon ODI series, opted to give rest to some of their players in the warm-up game against Lincolnshire in which they fielded two local Pakistani players, Wahaj Mirza and Taimoor Alam. 

Half centuries from wicketkeeper Tahir Rasheed (76 off 43 balls), Ashraf Pakhali (68 off 63 balls) and Muhammad Aslam (62 off 63 balls) allowed Pakistan Over-60s to install a formidable total of 294 despite three-wicket haul from Muhammad Sultan. 

Chasing 295 in 45 overs, Lincolnshire got off to solid start through their opening pair. Keams perished after scoring 38 off 37 balls but his partner, Roberts, remained undefeated on 112 off 108 balls. Number three Muhammad Sultan also contributed 40 off 46 balls but the county side fell behind the clock after losing a couple of quick wickets to Sagheer Abbas. Roberts was adjudged Player of the Match even though he was unable to take his team over the line.

readmore »»

England Over-60s outwit Pakistan Over-60s in 2nd ODI

Pakistan News & Features Services

England Over-60s levelled the five-match ODI series against Pakistan Over-60s being played for Royal Nawab Cup by winning the second encounter by seven wickets at the picturesque Davies/Worthington Memorial Ground on July 12. 

Pakistan Over-60s, having overhauled a challenging target of 295 in the first ODI at Park Avenue Cricket Club, Bradford, earlier in the week, again demonstrated depth in their batting by posting a fighting total of 197 after being reduced to 104 for seven. But the hosts showed greater resilience with the bat to get over the line quite leisurely in the end. 

Put into bat in overcast conditions, the visitors struggled to build a momentum for their innings. The injury to opener Sajid Ali (19 off 29 balls) followed by runouts of Saleem Malik (14 off 17 balls) and Ghaffar Kazmi (16 off 23 balls) did not help their cause either. The top half of their batting was back in the hut with only 70 runs on the board. 

The home side looked in complete control when wicketkeeper Tahir Rasheed (11 off 42 balls) was seventh batsman to be dismissed at the score of 104. The recovery was led by Zafar Ali (50 off 58 balls) and Muhammad Younus (18 off 40 balls) as they added 46 for the eighth wicket. Shahid Mahboob (9 off 20 balls) also helped in extending the total to a respectable 197 in 44.5 overs. 

Zafar Ali, who was adjudged Player-of-the-Match for his fine all-round performance in the previous outing, continued his purple patch. His counterattacking half-century lifted the spirits of the visitors whose innings was derailed by the trio of Philip Deakin (2-20), Jim Phillips (2-28) and Kevin Watson (2-32). 

Chasing a target of 198 in 45 overs, England Over-60s lost skipper Richard Merriman early but his opening partner Mel Hussain (45 off 54 balls) batted solidly. The match became wide open when the hosts slumped to 72 for three but then started the partnership between Edward Lennox (83 off 68 balls) and Monty Douglas (52 off 51 balls) who changed the course of the proceedings with their brilliant batsmanship. Their 128-run unbroken stand for the fourth wicket settled the issue decisively as the winning boundary was struck with 8.4 overs to spare.

readmore »»

Pakistan Over-60s edge out England Over-60s in last over thriller

Pakistan News & Features Services

Pakistan’s Over-60s cricket team started their tour of England on a winning note as they edged out the hosts by four wickets in the first ODI at Park Avenue Cricket Club, Bradford, on July 8. Pakistan went one-up in the five-match series being played for Royal Nawab Cup. 

What a thrilling opening fixture it turned out to be! Chasing a daunting target of 295 in 45 overs, Pakistan needed 15 runs for victory in the final over with four wickets in hand. The requirement was down to four off the last two balls and Zafar Ali drove the penultimate delivery for a boundary to take the visitors home with a ball to spare. Saleem Malik was at the non-striker’s end when the winning shot was executed. 

Zafar Ali was adjudged Player-of-the-Match for his fine all-round performance as he followed up his three-wicket haul with an unbeaten 33 which got Pakistan over the line after some exhilarating cricket over a period of one ball short of 90 overs. 

The home skipper, Richard Merriman, elected to bat after winning the toss. England Over-60s seemed to have done a fine job by accumulating 294 runs for the loss of eight wickets in the allotted 45 overs although they looked poised for a bigger total after a powerful start. Montie Douglas was the topscorer with 87 off as many balls while opener Nick Graywood (52 off 59 balls) and Jim Phillips (32 off 21 balls) also contributed their bit. Zafar Ali (3-65) and Sagheer Abbas (2-50) were the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan. 

The 94-run opening partnership between Muhammad Aslam (48 off 57 balls) and Sajid Ali (38 off 45 balls) put Pakistan on the right track and the momentum was sustained by Ashraf Pakhali (59 off 57 balls), Ghaffar Kazmi (46 off 41 balls) and Sagheer Abbas (42 off 34 balls). The hosts fought back through Mel Hussain who opened the game by grabbing four wickets. But the cameo from Zafar Ali allowed the visiting side to overhaul the target in the final over. 

In the presentation ceremony at the ground, Paul Bradley, President, England Seniors, gave away Player-of-the-Match award to Zafar Ali while Nadeem Omar, captain of Pakistan Over-60s, gifted a shield to rival skipper Richard Merriman. Fawad Ijaz Khan, Chairman, Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA) was also present on the occasion.

readmore »»

Pakistan Over-60s squad reaches England to contest Royal Nawab Cup

Pakistan News & Features Services

Pakistan’s 18-member Over-60s cricket squad, containing quite a few stalwarts of the past, reached United Kingdom on July 6 for two-week long tour during which will feature in five ODI matches against England Over-60s team besides contesting a couple of games against county outfits. 

According to the details shared by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), the five-match series between Pakistan and England, due to commence on July 8, will be played for Royal Nawab Cup which will be presented to the winning team at the end of the fifth and final encounter on July 19. The other three games are due to take place on July 12, July 15 and July 17. 

The Over-60s matches between Pakistan and England, acclaimed as two of the strongest teams, are expected to be close and exciting. Sizeable crowd at all venues is being anticipated in these games, which will also be streamed live. 

Nadeem Omar, owner of Quetta Gladiators, is leading the Pakistan side which also Fawad Ijaz Khan, Chairman, PVCA, and Saleem Malik, a former Pakistan captain. The other members of the squad are Sajid Ali, Syed Saghir Abbas, Syed Muhammad Ghaffar Kazmi, Muhammad Younus, Tahir Rashid (wicketkeeper), Muhammad Ashraf Pakhali, Shahid Mahboob, Syed Muhammad Shahabuddin, Syed Zafar Ali, Aamir Hameed, Muhammad Yaqoob, Badar Ansari, Syed Mansoor Hussain, Muhammad Akram and Zakir Baig (manager). 

It may be recalled that Pakistan Over-60s team, captained by Fawad Ijaz Khan, had emerged triumphant in the inaugural Over-60s World Cup which was staged at Brisbane, Australia, in 2022. Sadly, Pakistan was denied the opportunity to defend the title because of non-issuance of Indian visas to its players in the second edition of the Over-60s World Cup which was held at Chennai.

readmore »»

PVCA assured PCB support for staging inaugural Over-40 World Cup

Pakistan News & Features Services

The Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA) has been assured total support by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in holding the inaugural Over-40 World Cup Cricket Tournament in Karachi later this year. 

The assurance was given by Najam Sethi, Chairman, PCB Management Committee, during his one-to-one meeting with the PVCA Chairman, Fawad Ijaz Khan, which was held in Karachi on February 16. The PVCA helmsman expressed his pleasure at having held what he considered to be a fruitful meeting with the high-profile PCB chief.

“I shared with him the details of the Over-40 World Cup, scheduled to be held in Karachi September 23 to October 8 this years in which a total of 14 countries will be participating with 56 matches to be played at eight different grounds of the city,” Fawad Ijaz disclosed in a brief chat with PNFS.

“After going through our plans and seeking details on some organizational aspects, the PCB Chairman was kind enough to appreciate the efforts of our body and he agreed in principle to fully support the event,” the PVCA Chairman added. 

He explained the various points of this year’s Over-40 World Cup, in which many star players have confirmed participation, as well as the other activities of the PVCA both at the domestic as well international levels in a meeting that lasted around one hour. The PCB chief was also briefed about the preparations for team which will be traveling to Cape Town, South Africa, next month to participate in the Over-50 World Cup 2023. 

Najam Sethi, known for his proactive approach, commended the initiatives of the PVCA for efficiently conducting a broad array of activities, including organizing the Inter-School Cricket Tournaments. He applauded the World Cup winning Pakistan Over-60 team which lifted the trophy in Brisbane in September 2022.

readmore »»

Omar Associates clinch PVCA National Seniors Cup

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Omar Associates from Karachi added another feather in its cap by winning the 20th National Seniors Cup Cricket Tournament 2018-19 as they outwitted Amar Cables of Lahore four wickets in the national final, held at Shah Faisal Cricket Ground, Lahore, on December 8.

A total of 107 teams from all over the country participated in the event, organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA) every season since its inception in 1998-99. 

It was for the 10th time in the 20-year old history of the competition, being when a team from the southern region ran away with the trophy. 

On nine occasions a team from northern region has annexed the title while it was shared between Karachi and Lahore one time. Rashid Latif Cricket Academy (RLCA) had clinched the crown last season by outsmarting Okara, the northern region champions, in the national final at Karachi. 

Khalid Mahmood, a former Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), was the chief guest in the prize distribution ceremony where he presented a cash prize of Rs 150,000 alongwith winners’ trophy to Jaffer Qureshi, skipper of Omar Associates. The Amar Cables captain, Waqas Ahmed, collected the runners-up trophy with a purse of Rs 75,000. 

Fawad Ijaz Khan, Chairman, PVCA, and Intikhab Alam, a former Pakistan captain, manager and coach, were also present on the occasion. 

As anticipated, the national final turned out to be a closely contested affair between the two regional champions. Put into bat, Amar Cables, the northern region champions, scored 203 for the loss of eight wickets in the allotted 25 overs. Omar Associates, the southern region champions, overcame an uncertain start to chase down the target successfully with just two deliveries remaining. Nadeem Shaikh’s decisive unbeaten 38 off 21 balls earned him Man of the Match award. 

The decision of Omar Associates to insert the opponents, after calling correctly, paid dividends as the home side lost three wickets before raising 50 of their innings. 

It was Farhan Asghar’s brilliant unbeaten 81 off 60 balls which lifted Amar Cables as he clobbered one six and nine fours. Shahzad Butt’s cameo in the death overs took the total past 200. He hammered a six and four fours in his 30 off 18 balls as Amar Cables reached a respectable score of 203. Left-arm medium-pacer Kashif Pervez (3-30) was the pick of the Omar Associates bowlers. 

Amar Cables got into the driving seat by dismissing both the openers, Jaffer Qureshi and Sajid Ali, early and they still had the game in control when Omar Associates lost fourth wicket at 70 while chasing a target of 204. 

Azhar Khan’s counter-attacking 61 off 37 balls containing three sixes and six fours brought Omar Associates back in the game and then Nadeem Shaikh finished it off with a breezy 38. Afsar Nawaz also contributed an invaluable 32 off 22 balls to help the Karachi outfit overhaul the stiff target.

readmore »»

Surgeon Faiz passes away

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Surgeon Faiz Muhammad Khan, one of the founder members of the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA) and the Founder President of the Pakistan Association of Plastic Surgeons (PAPS), has passed away at the age of 79. He was buried in Karachi on August 9.

The PVCA Chairman, Fawad Ijaz Khan, and Mian Shaukat Hussain, a cricket commentator, in their condolence messages, recalled the services of the deceased surgeon who was a close friend of theirs. 

“Surgeon Faiz was a founder member of the PVCA when it was founded in 1998. Besides being one of the top plastic surgeons of the country, he himself was a very good cricketer. He was an accurate medium pace bowler, who had stopped playing cricket only a few years ago,” Fawad recalled. 

“The whole veterans’ cricket fraternity of Pakistan is very sad on the tragic death of Surgeon Faiz who was playing the game actively until he was 73 years old. He was working regularly at his hospital until the time of his death,” the PVCA Chairman added. 

Mian Shaukat Hussain, who played cricket with Surgeon Faiz for many decades at the Karachi Gymkhana Cricket Ground, also felt shaken at the death of one of his long time buddies. 

“We have had fond memories together and he was such a passionate cricketer who used to visit KG every Sunday. The last time I talked to him was just a couple of weeks ago. When reminded that we were missing him at KG cricket ground, he promised to return in a week or two. Sadly that couldn’t be possible,” Mian Shaukat remarked in a choked voice here at the Alamgir Masjid in Bahadurabad after offering Namaz-e-Janaza of the late Surgeon Faiz soon after Friday prayers. 

Born at Rajkot in Rajhastan, India, he and his family had migrated to Pakistan soon after independence and they relocated at Hyderabad. After doing FRCS from Edinburgh, he had also practiced in the United States before returning to Karachi to continue his work in plastic surgery. 

He was credited to have set up the department of plastic surgery here at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) in the early 1990s. Upon retirement from government service, he resumed practicing at his own hospital on Shaheed-e-Millat Road which continued until the last days of his life.

readmore »»

England, Australia humble Pakistan Super Veterans

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Over-60 outfits of Australia and England prevailed over Pakistan in their ‘international’ matches played at the Oswestry Cricket Ground in the county of Shorpshire during the ongoing tour of the United Kingdom.

According to the information shared by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), hosts England defeated Pakistan by a staggering margin of 267 runs in the 50-over game while Australia prevailed over them by 56 runs despite a brilliant century from Raja Arshad. 

England bowled Pakistan for a paltry 77 after having amassed 344 for the loss of three wickets in the allotted 50 overs. 

John Punchard topscored for the home side, with 76 off 91 balls containing eight fours. R Merriman (65), M Bowyer (50) and Barth Cilomen (50) also notched up half centuries while Haji Ashraf and Mansoor Akhtar took a wicket each for Pakistan Super Veterans, giving away for 47 and 48 runs respectively. 

Chasing a formidable target of 345 in 50 overs, the visitors collapsed under the scoreboard pressure, folding for a modest77 runs in 27 overs. Mansoor Akhtar (16), Sajid Kabir Khan (14) and Nadeem Omar (10) were the only batsmen to reach double figures as the innings was wrecked by N Stevens and M Young, who took three wickets each. 

The prize distribution ceremony was also addressed by Clive Ricks, President, England Over-60 Association, who informed that in England there were18 counties with 84 Over-60 teams and as many as 20 Over-70 Teams. 

Fawad Ijaz Khan, Chairman, PVCA, praised the playing skills and fitness level of the England players, stating that in Pakistan Over-60 cricket was only being played in Karachi with just a few fit players available. He presented Man of the Match award to John Punchard of England. Ashiq Hussain Qureshi, CEO, PVCA, was also present on the occasion. 

The contest between the two touring sides, Australia and Pakistan, at a neutral venue produced as many as 542 runs in 96 overs. 

Batting first, after winning the toss, Australian Over-60 accumulated 299 for the loss of six wickets in the allotted 50 overs. Mark Brady (83 off 81 balls) hit eight fours to emerge as the topscorer while Murray Harrison smashed a couple of sixes and as many fours in his enterprising 55. Ray Smith (42), Mark Gashell (38) and Glenn Richardson (32) were the other major contributors to the Australian total while Raja Arshad, Babar Basharat, Mansoor Akhtar, Fawad Ijaz Khan and Ejaz Faquih were the wicket-takers for Pakistan.

Raja Arshad’s typically awesome stroke-play put Pakistan Super Veterans in the driving seat as the aggressive opener belted eight sixes and 13 fours in his 136 off 109 balls. Babar Basharat (43) and Haji Ashraf (19) also played fine knocks but the Australian rallied back through Michael Frame (4-60) and Dale Thornton (2-47). 

The Pakistan outfit was bowled out for 243 in 46 overs, falling 57 runs short of their target. Their consolation was Man of the Match award collected by Raja Arshad for his sensational knock. It was improved performance by the visiting Pakistan side, who had been outplayed by the hosts a only couple of days ago. 

Pakistan Super Veterans will play their last match of the tour against Cheshire County on June 26. Earlier they had also played matches against the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire before taking on England Over-60 and Australia Over-60 outfits.

readmore »»

Fawad Ijaz Khan to lead Pakistan Super Veterans in England

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan’s Super Veterans (Over-60) cricket team will be creating history of sorts as they embark on a two-week tour of England on June 15.

According to the information made available on June 14, all-rounder Fawad Ijaz Khan, who is also Chairman of the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), will be leading the squad which is scheduled to play five limited-overs matches in England. 

Ijaz Faqih, a former Test all-rounder, has been appointed as the vice-captain for what’s going to be the first-ever tour to be undertaken by Super Veterans of the country.  

Ashiq Hussain Qureshi, CEO, PVCA, will be accompanying the team as manager while former Test bowler, Jalaluddin, who performed the first-ever hat-trick in One-day Internationals, and Kaleem Zia Khawaja will be travelling as the head coach and the assistant manager respectively. 

The Super Veteran squad also includes former Test players, Mansoor Akhtar and Ashraf Ali, besides P J Mir, who had represented Pakistan by the name of Pervez Mir during the inaugural World Cup in 1975, and Nadeem Omar, President, Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA).

Arif Habib, Tahir Shah, Basharat Ali Babar, Haji Ashraf, Badar Ansari, Aminullah Khan Raisani, Sajid Kabir and Nadeem Yousuf are the other members of the touring squad with Muhammad Akram and Altaf Aziz being reserve players. 

Pakistan’s Super Veterans will be playing a couple of matches of 50 overs each against hosts England and the touring Australian Veterans Team. 

They will also play three 45 overs-a-side matches against the counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cheshire. 

They will open the tour with a game against Yorkshire at Woodlands Cricket Club, Bradford, on June 17 before taking on Lancashire at Heywood Cricket Club, Heywood, on June 19. 

They will be up against England Veterans at Oswestry Cricket Club, Shropshire, on June 21 before meeting Australian Veterans at the same venue three days later. They will play the final game of the tour against Cheshire at Warrington Cricket Club, Warrington, on June 26. 

Meanwhile the PVCA has expressed its gratitude to Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, for his personal intervention in getting UK visas of some of the players from the British High Commission.

readmore »»

Nadeem Omar made the difference in PSL: Fawad Ijaz Khan

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Chairman of the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), Fawad Ijaz Khan, has declared that Nadeem Omar, the owner of Quetta Gladiators, was the difference among the otherwise evenly matched six participating squads in the recently held fourth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

“His motivational qualities played the key role in guiding his team to title victory this time round after they had been edged out in the final two times in three previous editions of the PSL,” he observed during his speech in the dinner hosted at the Karachi Gymkhana on April 8 by the PVCA in the honour of Quetta Gladiators for winning the PSL-4. 

“Each of the six teams contained power hitters and match winners. But it was the management skills and the incredible passion of its owner which tilted the tide decisively towards Quetta Gladiators,” the PVCA Chairman added. 

Inspired by the terrific response from the spectators in Karachi during the PSL-4, urged the authorities to either build a new stadium or enhance the seating capacity of the National Stadium to facilitate the passionate cricket lovers of the most populous city of Pakistan. 

Saeed Ghani, Sindh Minister for Local Government, Public Health Engineering, Rural Development and Katchi Abadies, who was the chief guest of the evening, acceded to the request of the PVCA Chairman and agreed to play his role in developing more cricket facilities in the metropolis. 

Encouraged by successfully staging the Karachi leg of the PSL, the Government of Sindh has agreed in principle in developing more facilities for fuelling the passion of the cricket-loving population of the metropolis. 

Saeed Ghani confirmed the willingness of the provincial government to further play its role in the promotion of cricket, the number one sport of the country. 

Sharing his thoughts candidly, the provincial minister talked about the hardships and the challenges faced by the provincial government in staging as many as eight matches of PSL-4 in Karachi without a single mishap. 

He complimented the law enforcement agencies and the city administration in particular for rising to the occasion. 

The Commissioner Karachi, Iftikhar Ali Shallwani, also spoke about the organizational aspects of the PSL-4 and he acknowledged the support of all the stakeholders in making the event a big success. 

Nadeem Omar, the owner of Quetta Gladiators and the President of the Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA), attributed the recent triumph of his team in the PSL as a result of teamwork rather than individual brilliance.

“We have been firm believers of teamwork. We have been operating like an extended family all along and the results have been there for everyone to see. It’s little wonder that ours has been the most consistent side in the PSL even though many people felt that we didn’t have too many megastars in our ranks,” he observed. 

Nadeem Omar made special mention of his family members for having been involved with Quetta Gladiators with heart and soul to keep everyone motivated and inspired. 

The Quetta Gladiators skipper, Sarfraz Ahmed, who is also the captain of Pakistan in all three formats, in his brief speech, thanked everyone in the team for having given their best to achieve the desired results. 

Former Pakistan captain and now the head coach of Quetta Gladiators, Moin Khan, expressed similar views and he was even more appreciative of the role of the management and the support staff in the success of the team on the field. 

Alamgir Ahmed, President, Sindh Seniors Cricket & Welfare Association, delivered the welcome address. 

The ceremony was attended by a large number of cricketers and others which included Nasim-ul-Ghani, Wasim Bari, Sadiq Muhammad, Ijaz Faqih, Jalaluddin, Mansoor Akhtar, Anwar Ali, Rashid Khan, Ghulam Ali, Sajid Ali, Prof Siraj-ul-Islam Bukhari, Prof Ejaz Ahmed Farooqui, Shariq Hasib Khan, Qamar Ahmed, Lt Gen (Rtd.) Wasim Ghazi, Asad Ashraf Malik, Fawad Malik and Azam Khan.

readmore »»

Behbud Secondary School thrash GBSS Anglo Oriental School in PVCA/EBM Inter-School cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services

Behbud Secondary School thrashed GBSS Anglo Oriental School by nine wickets in their Group F fixture of the 9th PVCA/EBM Inter-School Cricket Tournament 2018 at the Naya Nazimabad Cricket Stadium, Karachi, on October 17. 

The tournament, featuring 32 schools of Karachi, is being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA) and sponsored by English Biscuit Manufacturers (EBM), the makers of the famed Peek Freans biscuits. 

GBSS Anglo Oriental School, who opted to bat first, lost wickets at regular intervals to be bowled out for 152 all out in 35.overs despite the contribution of as many as 44 extras. 

Opener Muhammad Ramiz, who made a solid 22 off 41 balls, was their only batsman to offer resistance as the innings was rocked by the spin duo of Tayyab Khan (3-26) and Akhtar Ali (2-35). 

Behbud Secondary School’s skipper Akhtar Ali, opening the innings, then blasted a breezy 33 off 15 balls to give his team a flying start to the chase of 153. He was declared Man of the Match as the pair of Sagheer Khan (52 off 69 balls) and Hasan Raza (35 off 66 balls) added 106 runs for the unbroken second wicket partnership which took their team over the line in 24.5 overs.

readmore »»