LAHORE: Tickets for the three-match Test series between Pakistan and England will go on sale on Monday (today) evening, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a press release.

Besides free tickets, the cricket board has set ticket prices as low as Rs50, Rs100 and Rs200, while the highest price tickets will be available for Rs2,500. Different prices are fixed for different Test matches, days, venues and enclosures.

In the release, the PCB announced that the online purchasing will kick off at 5pm at PCB.tcs.com.pk. Whereas, to facilitate the fans, the physical tickets will be sold at various locations on October 4 after 9am.

The bilateral series is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25, with the first and second Test matches to be played at the Multan Cricket Stadium (MCS) from October 7 to 19. The third Test match will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium (RCS) from 24 to 28 October.

Also, box offices outside the match venues will be operational a day prior to the Test matches, the PCB said.

To encourage fans to come in large numbers, the entrance to the general enclosures (Hanif Muhammad and Mushtaq Ahmed) will be free on opening day of both Test matches in Multan. Additionally, entry to the premium enclosures (Miran Baksh, Shoaib Akhtar, Sohail Tanvir and Yasir Arafat) will be free for the first day of the Rawalpindi Test as well.

For the first Test, from Tuesday to Thursday (Day 2, 3 and 4), general enclosure tickets will be priced at Rs50, while the fans can buy Hanif Muhammad and Mushtaq Ahmed enclosures tickets for Rs100 on the fifth and final day. For first-class enclosures (Wasim Akram and Elahi Brothers), tickets will be available at Rs100 for four days of the first Test, while the tickets will cost Rs200 for fans witnessing the action on the fifth day. For Premium enclosures (Javed Miandad and Zaheer Abbas), tickets will be available for Rs200 each from Monday to Thursday (Day 1, 2, 3 and 4), while fans can witness fifth day’s action from the same enclosures for RS 300.

VIP Enclosures (Fazal Mahmood and Imran Khan) and PCB Gallery (Inzamam ul Haq) tickets will be available for fans for Rs300 and Rs2,000, respectively for first four days of the first Test match. On the fifth day, VIP enclosures tickets will be available at Rs400 and PCB Gallery (Inzamam ul Haq enclosure) tickets will be available at Rs 2,500. PCB Gallery ticket includes lunch as well.

For the second Test match to be played from October 15 to 19 at the Multan stadium, tickets of general enclosures for Wednesday and Thursday (Day 2 and 3), will be available at Rs 50, while general enclosures tickets for the fourth and fifth day’s play will be available at Rs100.

For first-class and premium enclosures, fans can purchase tickets at Rs100 and Rs200, respectively for first three days of the Test match. For fourth and fifth day’s action, tickets of first-class and premium enclosures will be accessible to fans at Rs200 and Rs300, respectively.

For fans willing to watch action from VIP enclosures and PCB Gallery can get tickets for Rs300 and Rs 2,000, respectively for the first three days of the Test, while for both places, tickets on Friday and Saturday (Day 4 and 5), will be available at Rs 400 and Rs 2,500, respectively.

For the third Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, entry to premium enclosures (Miran Baksh, Shoaib Akhtar, Sohail Tanvir and Yasir Arafat) will be free on the opening day. For the second day, the tickets of the premium enclosures will be available at Rs 200, while for the remaining days of the third Test, the premium enclosures tickets will be available to fans at Rs300. VIP enclosures (Imran Khan and Javed Miandad) tickets will cost Rs400 for the first two days and Rs500 for the remaining days.

The seats at the PCB Gallery, which includes lunch as well, will be available at Rs2,000 for action on Thursday and Friday (Day 1 and 2), while on the remaining days of the Test match, fans can purchase gallery tickets for Rs2,500.

Expressing “heartfelt” gratitude over playing for the Men in Green, cricketer Usman Qadir on Thursday announced to retire from the Pakistan team.

In a post on his social media accounts, the-31-year-old said his each moment with the national squad shaped his career. The leg spinner also thanked his coaches and colleagues for supporting him in this journey.

“Today, I am announcing my retirement from Pakistan cricket, and as I reflect on this incredible journey, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude. It has been an immense honor to represent my country, and I’m thankful for the support of my coaches and teammates who have been with me every step of the way,” he wrote.

The cricketer said each moment — from unforgettable victories to the challenges they faced together — had shaped his career and enriched his life.

“I’m deeply appreciative of the passionate fans who have always stood by me; your unwavering support has meant the world,” he said.

Usman has played one one-day international and 25 T20 internationals for the Green Shirts. His career has not been as illustrious as his father’s — legendary bowler Abdul Qadir.

Abdul Qadir’s son said he would be continuing his dad’s legacy, embracing both his love for cricket and the lessons his dad instilled in him, as he stepped into the new chapter.

“I carry with me the spirit of Pakistan cricket and the cherished memories we created together. Thank you for everything.”

Lahore: The match officials have been announced for the three-match Test series between Pakistan and England.

In the announcement issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), it has been said that in the first Test match of the series between the two teams, Sri Lanka’s Kumar Dharmasena and Bangladesh’s Sharaf-ud-Daula Saikat will be the on-field umpires. Both of them are included in the ICC Elite Panel.

West Indies captain Richie Richardson will head the playing control team as match referee in the series.

New Zealand’s Christopher Gaffney and Pakistan’s Asif Yaqub, who are part of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, will perform the duties of the fourth umpire.

Kumar Dharmasena and Christopher Gaffney will be on-field umpires for the second Test, while Sharaf-ud-Daula Saikat will be the third umpire. Pakistan’s Rashid Riaz (part of the ICC International Panel of Umpires) will be the fourth umpire.

For the third Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Christopher Gaffney and Sharaf-ud-Daula Saikat will be the on-field umpires while Kumar Dharmasena will be the third umpire and Faisal Afridi will be the fourth umpire.

It is pertinent to note that the series between Pakistan and England is part of the ICC World Test Championship and its first match will be held in Multan from October 7 to 11.

The second Test will be played from October 15 to 19 at Multan Cricket Stadium while the final match will be played at Rawalpindi from October 24 to 28.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has imposed a ban on Sri Lankan lef-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama for a year under its Anti-Corruption Code. 

The player has been banned from all forms of cricket. He also faces a suspension of six months after the player had admitted of breaching Article 2.4.7 of the code which deals with: 

“Obstructing or delaying any investigation that may be carried out by the ACU, including concealing, tampering with, or destroying any documentation or other information that may be relevant to that investigation and/or that may be evidence or may lead to the discovery of evidence of corrupt conduct under the Anti-Corruption Code,” a statement released by the ICC reads.

The left-arm spinner last represented his national team in 2022 after he played five Test, ODIs and T20Is for the Lankans.

The bowler took 32 wickets in the 15 international matches he played representing the Sri Lankan cricket team.

Jayawickrama debuted for Sri Lanka in a Test against Bangladesh in 2021 and his figures of 11/178 in that match currently hold the record of the seventh best bowling figures on Test debut.

His charges relate to international cricket and the matches of the Lanka Premier League (LPL).