WTC Finals: England to Host WTC Finals Till 2031 Despite Calls for Change from Rohit Sharma and Pat Cummins

Rohit Sharma and Pat Cummins had suggested moving the World Test Championship (WTC) final out of England, but it looks like their requests haven’t been accepted. The big final will continue to be held in England for the next few years.

As per a report by the Telegraph.co.uk, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has told the England Cricket Board (ECB) of their intention to host the summit clash in England for the next three editions.

England Likely to Host WTC Finals Until 2031 Due to Strong Ticket Sales

Even though there were reports recently that India wanted to host the World Test Championship final, it looks like that won’t be happening. There had been talks about letting different countries host the final, but now it’s almost confirmed that England will host the finals in 2027, 2029, and 2031. The final decision will be made at the ICC’s annual meeting in Singapore next month. One of the main reasons for choosing England is that ticket sales there are always strong and reliable.

Until now, all three World Test Championship (WTC) finals have been held in England. The first one was played in Southampton in 2021, the second at The Oval in 2023, and the 2025 final is set to take place at Lord’s.

Pat Cummins Wants WTC Final in Winner’s Country or at Lord’s

No decision has yet been taken on where the 2027 final will take place, with Lord's a favourite. Planning is expected to start shortly.

Before the match, Australia's captain Pat Cummins suggested that the final should be held in the country that won the last edition. "It'd be nice, maybe the previous winner hosts that for the next time, or something like that. But as an alternative, I think having it at Lord's every cycle is also a pretty good place," said Cummins in the pre-match press conference.

Rohit Sharma Questions England as Permanent WTC Final Venue

Before the 2023 final between India and Australia, former Indian Test captain Rohit Sharma said the final should be held outside England. He also questioned why it was always scheduled there.

"Why after the IPL final? Why cannot it be March? June is not the only month we should play the final. It can be played any time of the year and anywhere in the world, not just in England, it can be played anywhere in the world" said Rohit in the post-match press conference of the 2023 edition.

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