KARACHI: A record 110 outfits will be taking part in the 16th edition of National Seniors Cup Under-40 cricket tournament which starts from across the country from Sunday, the Pakistan Veteran Cricket Association (PVCA) announced here the other day.

Speaking at a joint press conference here at the Karachi Gymkhana, PVCA chairman Fawad Ijaz Khan, chief executive Ashiq Hussain Qureshi, director of Omar Associates Nadeem Omar, chairman of Sindh Seniors Cricket Association Alamgir Ahmed and Mohammad Ijaz Ahmed of Arif Group said it was a great achievement that this event which was launched in 1998 is now entering its 17th year.

Fawad then unveiled the details of the seven-week event, being sponsored by Arif Habib Corporation Limited and Omar Associates (Pvt) Limited. He recalled the achievements of the PVCA and said after recently touring South Africa Pakistan Veterans team will also tour be Australia at the end of this year. He also complimented his whole team for making the veterans cricket a great success and thanked Nadeem Omar and Arif Habib Group for their support.

The total prize money in the tournament will be Rs 805,000 with the winners of the national final to receive a purse of Rs 150,000 and the runners-up to collect Rs 75,000.

As many as 35 city teams from Punjab, 13 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, eight from Sindh, three from Islamabad and one from FATA have entered the competition whose national final will be played between the winning teams of North and South zones at Lahore on May 4.

The group matches for the Southern Zone will be of 25 overs each innings whereas the zonal and national finals will be of 30 overs per innings. The group matches will be organized on single league basis.

The matches of Northern Zone will be played at Peshawar, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur, Multan, Okara, Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Muridke, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Sialkot while the matches of Southern Zone will be played at Karachi, Hyderabad, Dadu, Shikarpur and Badin.In the opening fixture at the National Stadium, Karachi Gold Bridge will meet Karachi Friends at 11:00am.

Ashiq Qureshi said besides holding this event in different seniors’ age groups which also included Under-50 and Under-60, they are promoting club and school cricket and also supporting needy former cricketers under its social welfare programme.

Nadeem Omar, Alamgir Shaikh and Ijaz Ahmed also spoke on the occasion.

Seniormost cricket writer Qamar Ahmed, former Test cricketer Ijaz Faqih, ex-KCCA President Syed Sirajul Islam Bukhari and other officials of PVCA besides a large media contingent were also present on the occasion.

Pools: South Zone: Group ‘A’: Karachi Omar Associates, Karachi Friends, Karachi Moin Seniors, Karachi Gold Bridge.

Group ‘B1’: Sukkur, Shikarpur, Dadu, Sanghar.

Group ‘B2’: Badin, Mirpurkhas, Jamshoro, Hyderabad.

Central Punjab: Group ‘A’: Sayid Paper Stags, Gulberg Gymkhana Seniors, Gulf International Seniors, Punjab Cottages Industries.

Group ‘B’: Amar Cables, Okara Seniors, Lahore Shaheen, Lahore Tigers.

Group ‘C’: Golden Eagles, CH Sports, Lahore Mohammadans, Shah Jamal Seniors.

Group ‘D’: Textile Tigers, Turk Plast Seniors, Kasur Seniors, Din News Seniors.

Group ‘E’: Aftab Qureshi, Aashiana Boys, Vital Stars, Hajvery Sport.

Group ‘F’: Faisalabad Seniors, Toba Tek Singh Seniors, Jhang Seniors, Boston Veterans.

South Punjab:

Group ‘A’: Rahim Yar Khan Seniors, D.G Khan Seniors, Rajanpur Seniors, Jampur Seniors.

Group ‘B’: Multan Tigers, Multan Jinnah, Muzaffargarh Seniors, Layyah Seniors.

Group ‘C’: Bahawalpur Seniors, Bahawalpur Greens, Khanewal Seniors.

Group ‘D’: Multan Whites, Multan Heroes, Khanewal Lions, Mian Channu Stallions.

Group ‘E’: Bahawalnagar Seniors, Pakpattan Seniors, Arifwala Seniors, Chistian Seniors.

Group ‘F’: Sahiwal Seniors, Chichawatni Seniors, Burewala Lions, Layyah Seniors.

North Punjab:

Group ‘A’: Askari Green Rawalpindi, Kiani XI Rawalpindi, Jhelum Seniors, Mirpur

Seniors.

Group ‘B’: Rawalpindi Royals, Rawalpindi Blues, Rawalpindi Kings, Mianwali Seniors.

Group ‘C’: Sialkot Seniors, Najmi Seniors Sialkot, Narowal Seniors, Gujranwala Seniors.

Group ‘D’: Sialkot Stallions, Gujranwala Blues, Mubarak Seniors Sialkot, Pasroor Seniors.

Group ‘E’: Yaqoob XI Sialkot, Gujrat Seniors, Mandi Bahauddin, Comrade Seniors Sialkot.

Group ‘F’: A.N. Sports Sialkot, Grays Seniors Sialkot, Gujranwala Greens, Gujrat Shaheen.

Group ‘G’: Sheikhupura Tigers, Hafizabad Seniors, Sialkot Seniors Pros.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad:

Group ‘A’: Islamabad Tigers, Islamabad Lions, Islamabad Leopards, Wah Karigar Seniors.

Group ‘B’: Abbottabad Seniors, Manshera Seniors, Haripur Seniors, Swabi Seniors.

Group ‘C’: Peshawar Blues, Charsadda Whites, Kohat Seniors, Dera Ismail Khan Seniors.

Group ‘D’: Peshawar Seniors, Charsadda Reds, Khalil Seniors Peshawar, Fata Seniors.

Group ‘E’: Mardan Seniors, XI Stars Peshawar, Swat Seniors, Nowshera Seniors.