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England will host the next three World Test Championship finals, dashing India’s hopes.
Players observe a minute of silence before the start of play to honor the victims of Thursday’s plane crash in India (Picture credit: AP)
England are in line to host the next three World Test Championship finals as the International Cricket Council thwarted India’s ambitions to host at least one of them, continuing the tradition since the first edition in 2021, according to a report by The Telegraph. India have played two WTC Finals, losing both.
India will have to at least wait for eight more years to host the WTC Final since the latest decision, if true, will hand England the hosting rights till the 2029-31 season.
The report says that the hosting rights decision will be confirmed during July’s ICC Annual Conference in Singapore.
England Cricket Board officials have been informed of ICC’s wishes, as BCCI are left out in the cold to rue their chances yet again.
BCCI have expressed an interest in hosting the WTC Final multiple times over the last six years. But despite India’s growing influence on world cricket and former BCCI secretary Jay Shah’s presence as the ICC chairman, England are still the frontrunner to host the next three finals.
“History and prestige mean Lord’s will be the strong favourite to host the game again in 2027, but conversations over exactly where it is played remain at a nascent stage. London, being a global travel hub, makes the capital the natural choice, but more northerly venues could come into contention,” the report reads.
The 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle, which will finish in England as well, is scheduled to host the second Test of the new cycle as well, with India taking on England in a five-match Test series from June 20 in Leeds.
England have hosted both World Test Championship clashes so far in 2021 and 2023 at Hampshire and the Oval.
According to reports, discussions to host the 2027 WTC Final were held during the ICC’s chief executives committee meeting in Zimbabwe in April, where BCCI was represented by Indian Premier League chairman Arun Dhumal.
“If India reaches the next WTC final, then it will be a great spectacle for the fans. Even otherwise (if India does not feature in the final), a match involving two other top teams will have a lot of takers,” a source was quoted as saying.
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