Richly talented but much maligned, England captain Harry Brook finally achieved redemption at Pallekele stadium in Kandy after a torrid few months - and came of age as a leader. His match-winning century against Pakistan on Tuesday will go down as the finest innings of the 27-year-old’s white-ball career because it single-handedly took his side into a fifth successive T20 World Cup semi-final. Facing a tricky chase of 165 against Pakistan at the Pallekele stadium in Kandy, England could have been in dire straits when they lost Phil Salt first ball of the innings. But Brooks, who normally bats at number five, strode to the wicket first drop in a massive statement of intent that said “leave it to me, lads”. Before the tournament there had been calls for Brook’s resignation after he had to apologise for a Halloween incident on the white-ball tour of New Zealand, where he was punched by a nightclub bouncer - in his own words “a terrible mistake”. On the eve of the T20 World Cup Brook admitted lying about being on his own that night to protect his teammates at the time. All this had emerged after an Ashes debacle where Brook failed to score a century and was castigated in the English press - and mocked in Australia - for throwing his wicket away with reckless shots time and again. “It’s probably been the hardest winter of my life to be honest,” Brook told reporters after the match. “There’s been a lot of stuff behind the scenes. It’s just nice to see some rewards from my hard work away from the ground.” Brook was more modest, saying his one-day international century against Sri Lanka last month had been better. “I actually think I preferred the Sri Lanka ODI to be honest,” said Brook. But that was in a bilateral series; this one was in a World Cup match. “It’s certainly up there in the context of the game and the situation that we found ourselves.”

Ticket sales for the Qatar Football Festival, including Finalissima, will begin on February 25, Wednesday at 9pm, Doha time, at www.roadtoqatar.qa. Fans from across the globe are set to experience a star-studded football extravaganza, taking place between March 26-31 in Qatar, that will feature Spain, Argentina, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Serbia in six high-profile matches. **media[420490]**The centrepiece Finalissima will feature an epic showdown between European champions Spain and South American and World champions Argentina at the Lusail Stadium on March 27. This is the first time that Qatar is hosting this prestigious international fixture, reaffirming its position as a global sports capital, as the country continues to gain recognition for its renowned legacy of hosting mega-sporting events. **media[420492]** The much-anticipated fixture will see the return of reigning world champions and Conmebol Copa Amarica 2024 winners Argentina to the iconic Lusail Stadium – where they lifted the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 title – this time to face the UEFA EURO 2024 champions, Spain. Fans attending the Finalissima will witness a once-in-a-lifetime generational showdown, with Argentina’s legendary Messi set to face Spain’s rising star Lamine Yamal.The Qatar Football Festival will also bring together hosts Qatar, Serbia, as well as continental giants Saudi Arabia and Egypt, in a series of thrilling matches, offering participating nations valuable preparation to measure their readiness and assess their capabilities ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.**media[420489]**Fans planning to attend the Qatar Football Festival can purchase tickets in the following categories: Thursday, March 26: Egypt v Saudi Arabia at Ahmad bin Ali StadiumCAT 1: QAR 400 CAT 2: QAR 200 CAT 3: QAR 50 Accessibility Ticket: QAR 50 Qatar v Serbia at Jassim bin Hamad StadiumCAT 1: QAR 100 CAT 2: QAR 50 Accessibility Ticket: QAR 50 Friday, March 27: Finalissima Qatar 2026 (Spain v Argentina) at Lusail Stadium CAT 1: QAR 1200 CAT 2: QAR 600 CAT 3: QAR 200 Accessibility Ticket: QAR 200 Monday, March 30: Egypt v Spain at Lusail StadiumCAT 1: QAR 400 CAT 2: QAR 200 CAT 3: QAR 50 Accessibility Ticket: QAR 50 Saudi Arabia v Serbia at Jassim bin Hamad StadiumCAT 1: QAR 100 CAT 2: QAR 50 Accessibility Ticket: QAR 50 Tuesday, March 31: Qatar v Argentina at Lusail StadiumCAT 1: QAR 400 CAT 2: QAR 200 CAT 3: QAR 50 Accessibility Ticket: QAR 50 Fans can purchase up to four tickets for each match and will receive confirmation via their registered email. All fans attending a match will need their own ticket, including infants. All tickets will be digital and will be made available on the Road To Qatar official ticketing app closer to the match date. Tickets are non-refundable. Tickets include accessible seating options for disabled fans. Disabled fans wishing to request accessible seats can do so by sending an e-mail to [email protected]. Throughout the festival, fans will also be treated to a variety of entertainment and cultural activities. Fans are requested to purchase tickets only through www.roadtoqatar.qa – the official ticket platform for Qatar Football Festival. Tickets purchased from any other unauthorised resale platforms are subject to cancellation. All three venues are connected by the Doha Metro, allowing fans to utilise Qatar’s state-of-the-art public transport network. For international fans, exclusive travel packages, including a round-trip flight, accommodation and a match ticket (CAT 1 or 2), are available through Qatar Airways and Visit Qatar, the marketing and promotional arm of Qatar Tourism. For more information, visit https://www.qatarairways.com/footballfestival.For tickets and more information on the Qatar Football Festival, visit www.roadtoqatar.qa and follow @roadtoqatar on all major social media platforms.