Recently, the nation faced a huge disappointment when Pakistan was driven out from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 despite the country being the host. Pakistan is a nation obsessed with cricket and when we lose, in tournaments as big as the ICC Champions Trophy, it saddens everyone.
However, with the youth losing face this year, the Pakistan Over-50s team has proven that there is perhaps still hope for cricket in this country.
The Pakistan Over-50s veterans cricket team has officially lifted the IMC Over 50s Cricket World Cup that was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka from 9th to 23rd February 2025.
The IMC Over 50s World Cup
A total of 14 IMC affiliated countries competed in the tournament, which was played in a 45-overs-per-side format. These teams were divided into two groups:
Group A:ย
England, Namibia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, UAE, USA, Zimbabwe
Group B:
Pakistan, India, Australia, South Africa, West Indies, Canada, Wales
Pakistan entered the tournament as one of the top-ranked Over 50s teams in the world as it had only lost three matches in the history of the cup.
Read More:ย Ibrahim Zadran Makes the Highest Individual Score in ICC Champions Trophy History
An ‘Almost’ Clean Sweep
The Pakistan Over 50s teams made an almost clean sweep, winning seven of its eight matches.
- 9th Feb: vs Wales โ Pakistan won by 3 runs
- 10th Feb: vs Australia โ Australia won by 8 wickets
- 13th Feb: vs West Indies โ Pakistan won by 147 runs
- 15th Feb: vs Canada โ Pakistan won by 130 runs
- 17th Feb: vs South Africa โ Pakistan won by 5 wickets
- 18th Feb: vs India โ Pakistan won by 1 run ( A thrilling finish as the result was decided on the second-last ball)
- 20th Feb: Semi-Final vs England โ Pakistan won by 9 runs
- 23rd Feb: Final vs Sri Lanka โ Pakistan won by 6 wickets
The Nail-Biting Match Against Indiaย
Like every other Pakistan-Indian match, this one too was particularly nail-biting and the result was decided on the penultimate ball. While the Pakistan National Cricket Team brutally lost against India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Veteran Team showed great resilience, determination and teamwork to claim their victory in the IMC Over 50s World Cup.
Recognition and Heroic Returnย
After Pakistan gloriously won the Grand Final defeating Sri Lanka, a lavish closing ceremony and dinner was hosted later in the evening. The ceremony was attended by players from all 14 participating countries, several former Sri Lankan Test cricketers, PVCA Chairman Fawad Ijaz Khan, former Pakistan Test captain Moin Khan and Nadeem Omar, owner of Quetta Gladiators.ย
When the players finally came back victorious to Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, they were greeted with immense pride and admiration from fans and well-wishers.
These men are proof that cricket is still alive and thriving in the country; we just need to look the right way.
Congratulations to the champions!
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