Cricket
Retired at 40, but not done yet! Veteran cricketers gear up for national T20 league in Kolkata
Kolkata/IBNS: Providing an opportunity to retired cricketers to return to competitive action, the Veteran Cricket Bengal Association (VCBA) has announced the All India National Cricket League Tournament, which will be held in Kolkata on November 27 and 28.
The tournament aims to bring together former professional cricketers aged 40 and above, who, despite retiring from the game, continue to have the passion and enthusiasm to play.
The announcement was made at an event where the organisers also unveiled the tournament's official jersey.
The event was attended by Sudhir Kulkarni, Secretary of the Board of Veteran Cricket India (BVCI); Dr Sunil Jha, Joint Secretary of BVCI and former President of the Rajasthan Veteran Cricket Association; and A.K. Upadhyay, VCBA member and Secretary of High Court Club.
The two-day tournament will take place at Harvard House Sports School, with six teams representing West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Vadodara participating this year.
Speaking about the initiative, BVCI Secretary Sudhir Kulkarni said the tournament would provide experienced cricketers with a competitive platform to showcase their skills and continue their association with the sport.
"The All India National Cricket League Tournament is an important initiative to promote veteran cricket and recognise the continued passion and commitment of experienced cricketers. Cricket is not just a sport; it is a lifelong passion that brings people together across generations.
"Through this tournament, we aim to provide veteran players with a competitive platform to showcase their skills, maintain their sporting spirit and inspire younger generations. The unveiling of the official jersey marks an exciting milestone as we prepare for the tournament," said Kulkarni.
The Veteran Cricket Bengal Association announces the All India National Cricket League Tournament. Photo: PR Team
Speaking to IBNS about the eligibility criteria and format, Kulkarni said players must be above 40 years of age and have a professional background in cricket.
He added that although the organisers had initially planned to include eight teams, they had decided to restrict participation to six teams this year due to time constraints.
The tournament will be played in the T20 format, with all rules and regulations under the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) being followed, he said.
Dr Sunil Jha said the initiative was aimed at creating opportunities for former cricketers who still wished to compete despite having retired from professional cricket.
"The vision for this is for veterans to re-enter the field. They might have retired, but they still have the passion to play, and they should have a place to play. They often don't have an opportunity like that.
"That's why we have created this platform, and the people who are playing were very good cricketers in their time, but now they don't have good opportunities to play. Organisations like BCCI are also looking into such initiatives, and I feel this is a great opportunity, especially for those who have the energy and zeal to play," Jha told IBNS.
The tournament seeks to promote veteran cricket by providing former players with an opportunity to return to the field, demonstrate their abilities and continue their sporting journey.
(Reporting by Swastik Sarkar, Photos by PR)
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