Richardson to be match referee for Pak-Eng series

Sir Richie Richardson, a prominent figure in international cricket and member of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, has been appointed to lead the match control teams for the highly anticipated ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 fixtures between England and hosts Pakistan.

The series will kick off with the first Test match at the Multan Cricket Stadium from October 7 to 11. Following this, the second Test will also be held at the same venue, scheduled for October 15 to 19. The third and final Test will take place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, commencing on October 24.

For the opening Test, Sri Lanka's Kumar Dharmasena and Bangladesh's Sharfuddoula Saikat, both esteemed members of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, will take charge as on-field umpires. New Zealand's Christopher Gaffaney will serve as the third umpire, while Pakistan's Asif Yaqoob, part of the ICC International Panel of Umpires, will fulfill the role of fourth umpire.

In the second Test, Kumar Dharmasena will once again take to the field alongside Christopher Gaffaney as the on-field umpires, with Sharfuddoula Saikat acting as the third umpire. Pakistan's Rashid Riaz, also part of the ICC International Panel, will assume the role of fourth umpire.

The third Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium will see Christopher Gaffaney and Sharfuddoula Saikat officiating as on-field umpires, with Kumar Dharmasena serving as the third umpire. Faisal Aafreedi, another member of the ICC International Panel of Umpires, will act as the fourth umpire.

SL spinner Jayawickrama banned for corruption

Sri Lankan spin bowler Praveen Jayawickrama has been banned from cricket for a year by the sport's world governing body after he pleaded guilty to a corruption charge.

The International Cricket Council said the 26-year-old spinner, who has not been included in a national squad since June 2022, admitted breaching the body's anti-corruption code.