The Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), in a relatively short span of time, has succeeded in making its presence felt in a big way at the national and international level. Founded in 1998 the PVCA has pursued its cherished goals with missionary zeal. It’s now an acclaimed institution having pioneered the idea of facilitating and creating healthy activities for the veterans besides taking
care of the youngsters. Pakistan’s senior and veteran cricketers, under the auspices of the PVCA, have undertaken tours of India, England, Sri Lanka and South Africa. We have played host to India as well for a four-match series which was a resounding success. We have been proactive in reviving Schools Cricket once the major nursery for producing outstanding cricketers which had become dormant for decades. It was an area which needed attention and we have met the challenge by organizing Inter-Schools tournaments which have motivated the students and helped them in unfolding their cricketing skills. The PVCA is being governed by a 16-member Board of Directors and it’s the only authorized and accredited Seniors/Veterans level cricket organization in the country, registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) under Companies Ordinance 1984. In 16 years the PVCA has organized innumerable local tournaments for the Seniors (Over-40), the Veterans (Over-50) and the Super Veterans (Over-60) besides holding national tournaments on a regular basis. The National Seniors Cup has been successfully held every year and its 16 editions have already taken place. The National Veterans Cup has also become a regular annual feature for the past five years while the Super Veterans Cup, after becoming instantly successful in Karachi will now be taken to the national level. At present there are nearly 2,000 players engaged in Seniors Cricket, more than 300 are actively playing in Veterans Cricket and around 100 are participating in the Super Veterans events. Before the establishment of the PVCA in 1998 very few cricketers in either of these categories were taking the field. I take this opportunity of paying my respects to three of our founder members of the PVCA who are no more in this mortal world. Bashir Ahmed Basti, Dr Syed Mohammad Ali Shah and Shahid Israr were instrumental in lighting the candle and they had contributed immensely in turning the dream of PVCA into a reality. PVCA has also been extending financial support to the needy and deserving Cricketers, Umpires and Groundsman as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility. Let me also recognize all my fellow Board members, past and present, for having spared their invaluable time and resources in the development of the PVCA. I am very thankful to the two affiliated PVCA bodies of Punjab Veterans Cricket Association and Sindh Senior Welfare Cricket Association for extending their support to the activities of PVCA.
