Free entry for Chandigarh practice matches

Chandigarh -- Entry to two practice cricket matches to played at the renovated Sector 16 stadium here featuring teams from Punjab as well as cricket Sri Lanka and Bangladesh would be free, it was announced Friday.

The matches would be played Oct 4 and 5.

The big names in the two practice matches include Sanath Jayasurya, Muttiah Muralitharan, Marvan Atapattu, Upul Chandana, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Rangana Herath, Mahela Jayawardene, Lasith Malinga, Thilan Samaraweera, Kumar Sangakkara, Chaminda Vaas and others from Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan team will play their match against the Punjab XI Oct 5.

The Punjab XI would also feature several Team Indian players like Dinesh Mongia, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, V.R.V. Singh and Reetinder Singh Sodhi.

The Bangladesh XI will face Punjab Oct 4.

The matches are being played in preparation of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) mini-world cup - the Champions Trophy - starting in India Oct 7.

The stadium has been completely renovated in the past three months to make it at par with international grounds.