The ICC is confident the inaugural World Test Championship(WTC) final, to be contested between India and New Zealand in Southampton in June, will go ahead as planned.
WTC Final will play as planned
India entering the “red list” effectively bans all travel from the country and makes a 10-day hotel quarantine compulsory for UK residents arriving back home.
However, the ICC expressed confidence in staging the World Test Championship (WTC) final in a bio-secure environment.
India 🤜🤛 New Zealand
The inaugural ICC World Test Championship finalists!
The wait will be unbearable. #WTC21 | #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/X3KcNrUTJ1
— ICC (@ICC) March 6, 2021
“The ECB and other members have demonstrated how we can stage international cricket safely in the middle of a pandemic and we are confident that we can continue to do that and that the WTC Final will go ahead as planned in June in the UK,” said the ICC in a statement.
“We are currently discussing with the UK Government the impact of countries being on the red list’,” it added.
The final will be contested between India and New Zealand in Southampton from June 18, despite the surge in COVID-19 cases making certain countries apprehensive about the prospect of international travel.
Currently, India is hosting the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League under the strict deployment of bio-bubbles, but concerns remain for arriving players as some opted to stay back in their home countries while others, like Daniel Sams, arrived and was immediately sent into isolation for 10 days upon receiving a positive test result on April 7.
Virat Kohli led India and New Zealand will go head-to-head in the final after finishing in the top two positions of the league table of the tournament. The final of the marquee event will be played from 18-22 June at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.
The Indian women’s cricket team is also scheduled to tour the UK in June. The men’s team is also to play five Tests in England starting August 4.
