The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed in the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday, July 20, that England will continue to host the World Test Championship (WTC) Final until 2031. There have been several reports that India is set to host the WTC Final in 2027. However, the ICC stated that England will continue to host the finale for now, having successfully hosted three WTC Finals in 2021, 2023, and 2025.
The decision has been taken keeping the track record as well as the response from the audience in attendance. The recent WTC 2025 Final between Australia and South Africa saw a good record on all four days the match that was played at the Lord's Cricket Stadium. The other two finals were held at Southampton (2021) and The Oval (2023).
"The Board also confirmed the awarding of hosting rights for the ICC World Test Championship Finals for the 2027, 2029, and 2031 editions to the England and Wales Cricket Board, following a successful track record in hosting recent finals," the ICC said in its release.
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According to a report in India Today, the Indian Cricket Board was highly interested in bringing the final of the red-ball format to its shores. Ahmedabad was also the likely venue where the WTC Final would have been played. However, for the time being, it is unlikely to happen.
Afghan Women cricketers to get support from ICC
Meanwhile, in heartwarming news, the Afghan Women's Cricket Team will get its collaborative program support from the ICC. This great initiative is being carried out in partnership with the BCCI, ECB, and Cricket Australia (CA). The program will include performance training, domestic match exposure, and involvement in upcoming ICC Women's events like the ODI World Cup 2025 in India and the T20 World Cup 2026 in England.
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In the same AGM, ICC has also granted USA Cricket a three-month notice to conduct fair and free elections and implement structural reforms. The ICC has also made it clear it will take action after three months if these demands are not met.
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