Over-40s Cricket World Cup Guyana: 16 Teams Play 72 Free-Entry Matches, 17–31 October
Pakistan won the Over-40s Cricket World Cup in Guyana on Saturday 31 October 2026, beating Australia by one wicket in the final at Providence. Australia made 281 for 6 and Pakistan reached 282 for 9 with one ball left.
Guyana hosted the IMC Over-40s Cricket World Cup from Saturday 17 October to Saturday 31 October 2026. Pakistan took the title after a chase that began from 27 for 3 and 103 for 5.
Key Facts
- Result. Pakistan won the final by one wicket, with one ball to spare, on 31 October.
- Final scores. Australia made 281 for 6; Pakistan replied with 282 for 9 at Providence.
- Dates. The tournament ran from Saturday 17 October to Saturday 31 October 2026.
- Organisers. International Masters Cricket (IMC) sanctioned it and the Cricket West Indies Masters Association (CWIMA) hosted it.
- Entry. Admission to every match was free, according to CWIMA.
Pakistan Beat Australia in the Final
Australia batted first at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence and made 281 for 6. Greg Hunt scored 103 off 102 balls, and he and captain Steve Paulsen, who made 70, added 128 for the third wicket.
Pakistan fell to 27 for 3 and later to 103 for 5, then recovered through Adnan Akmal and Jawad Mansoor. Akmal made 83 off 84 balls and Mansoor 62 off 57, and the pair added 115 for the sixth wicket.
Syed Fariduddin, who had taken 4 for 40 with the ball, finished unbeaten on 24 off 16 balls. Pakistan won on the penultimate ball of their innings, with 282 for 9 on the board.
Over-40s Cricket World Cup Guyana: How It Reached the Final
Play started at 9:30 a.m. Guyana time (UTC−4) on Saturday 17 October, at 45 overs a side. The sides were split into two groups, which CWIMA calls zones, before the knockout rounds.
Pakistan beat England by two wickets in the first Cup semi-final on 28 October at Providence. Australia beat South Africa, the 2024 champions, by four wickets in the second semi-final on 29 October at Bourda.
The West Indies lost their opening game to Australia and later played in the Shield competition for lower-ranked sides. They finished fifth overall.
Who Played: Former Test Players Aged 40 and Over
Masters cricket is for former professionals and club players above a set age, here 40. The home side was captained by Denesh Ramdin, a former West Indies captain.
The West Indies squad also named Ramnaresh Sarwan and Devendra Bishoo. Both are former Test players.
The previous Over-40s World Cup was played in Cape Town, South Africa, in February and March 2024, and South Africa won it. Pakistan are the new champions.
The Grounds, From Bourda to the Essequibo Coast
CWIMA’s venue directory listed ten match grounds. Four are in Georgetown, the capital: Bourda, Malteenoes Sports Club, Eve Leary and Everest.
The flagship is the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, south of the capital, with about 15,000 seats. Enmore and Lusignan lie on the East Coast of Demerara, and Albion in Berbice, the eastern region.
Two grounds serve the Essequibo Coast in the west. They are the new Anna Regina National Stadium and the Joe Jagmohan ground at Hampton Court.
Bourda, home of the Georgetown Cricket Club, is a former Test ground. It staged 30 Tests and 10 one-day internationals between 1930 and 2006, and this tournament brought top-level masters cricket back to it.
Why Guyana Hosted, and What It Brought
Guyana is South America’s only English-speaking country and plays its cricket as part of the West Indies. Providence staged matches at the men’s World Cups of 2007 and 2024.
Squads from several continents travelled to Georgetown for two weeks of play, in an economy now shaped by oil. The government convened police, health and defence agencies to plan security and medical cover.
What Is Not Yet Known
We have not found a confirmed host or date for the next Over-40s World Cup. Sources also differ on how many matches were played, and on the exact scoring in the final’s closing overs.
Official final standings and individual tournament awards had not been published on the organisers’ pages when we checked on 5 November. We will update this page when they appear.
Sources
International Masters Cricket: IMC Over-40s World Cup, Guyana · IMC World Cup schedule and results (consulted 5 November 2026) · CWIMA tournament hub: Events · CWIMA tournament hub: Venues · CWIMA tournament hub: Teams · Agency and local match reports of 31 October to 2 November 2026 for the final scores.
FAQ
Who won the Over-40s Cricket World Cup in Guyana?
Pakistan won, beating Australia by one wicket in the final at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence on 31 October 2026. Pakistan finished on 282 for 9 with one ball to spare, chasing Australia’s 281 for 6.
When and where was the tournament held?
It ran from Saturday 17 October to Saturday 31 October 2026 at grounds across Guyana. The final was at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence.
Was entry free?
Yes. CWIMA said admission to all matches was free.
Which former West Indies players took part?
The West Indies squad was captained by Denesh Ramdin and included Ramnaresh Sarwan and Devendra Bishoo, both former Test players.
More: Guyana news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
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