India, which has long been accused of bringing politics into sports and sowing seeds of division, has faced yet another embarrassment on the international stage. The country has been stripped of its hosting rights for next year’s Over-40 Cricket World Cup.
According to media reports, the mega event for cricketers aged over 40 will now be held in Guyana, where leading teams from around the world will participate. It is worth noting that Pakistan is hosting this year’s Over-40 Cricket World Cup.
The opening match will be played on Saturday at the National Bank Stadium between hosts Pakistan and South Africa. The Pakistan Veterans team will be led by former all-rounder Abdul Razzaq.
Several well-known cricketers, including former Test captain Shahid Khan Afridi, are part of the 18-member squad, while former Test captain Javed Miandad is serving as the team’s mentor. The mega event will continue until December 1, with Pakistan, Australia, South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Zimbabwe, Canada, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the USA and the Rest of the World teams participating. The tournament trophy has also been unveiled.
Chairman of the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association, Fawad Ejaz Khan, said that hosting the Plus-Forty T20 World Cup is an honour for Pakistan.
He noted that this is the first time the Plus-Forty World Cup is being played in the T20 format. A total of 11 teams are participating, and 42 matches will be played from November 22 to December 1, with two matches scheduled each day.
