KARACHI, Sept 21: The forthcoming Test series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will have a minimum of 83 overs bowled per day on two counts - shorter playing days in late October and the fact the matches are being staged during the month of Ramazan.

According to the playing conditions for Test cricket, laid down by the International Cricket Council (ICC), a minimum of 90 overs per day is mandatory around the world. But since Pakistan usually host some of the Tests during late autumn and winter, there is a provision for them in the ICC playing conditions to cut down the number of overs.

The first Test is slated for Faisalabad from Oct 20 to 24 while the final Test is set for Karachi on Oct 28. The Sri Lankan cricket authorities have agreed to this change decided by the Pakistan Cricket Board, that the playing hours during the first two sessions will be two-hour duration each and the post-tea session 90 minutes except on Fridays.

Play on each day of the Test series will get under way at 10.00am and finish at 4.30pm with a 40-minute break for lunch at 12.00noon and another 20-minute period for tea at 3.00pm.

The third day of the first Test at Faisalabad and the second day in the Karachi Test fall on Fridays. On these two days, the first session will have a playing time of 150 minutes prior to the 60-minute interval for lunch and Friday prayers.

The afternoon 90-minute period will commence at 1.30pm before while play will cease for the day at 4.50pm. Meanwhile, the first five-matches in the triangular series will commence at 9.30am. Lunch will be taken at 1.00pm, which will be followed by the second session of play at 1.45pm.

However, in the last preliminary round match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka and the final, which are both day/night fixtures at Lahore's Qadhafi Stadium, the game starts at 1.45pm. Team batting second will start their run chase at the conclusion of the 45-minute supper break at 6.00pm.