The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that the World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand will be played in a bio at the Hampshire Bowl. Earlier Lord’s was chosen as the venue to host the final.
“The decision, taken by the ICC Board, follows discussions with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) where a range of options were considered to ensure the inaugural final could be staged safely with the potential impact of COVID-19 minimised for all involved,” the ICC said on Wednesday.
“In selecting The Hampshire Bowl, the ICC drew on ECB’s experience of delivering a full summer of bio-safe international cricket in 2020. The venue provides world-class playing and training facilities, giving both teams the best possible environment in which to prepare. Whilst the on-site accommodation will significantly reduce the risk around COVID-19 transmission and better protect the health and safety of everyone involved in delivering the final.”
The final of the inaugural World Test Championship will be played between June 18 to 22. ICC and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) decided to shift the venue to maintain the safety of the players amidst the pandemic. A limited number of spectators will be allowed at Hampshire Bowl if the UK government leases rules.
“The ICC World Test Championship final is the pinnacle event in the Test calendar and is intended to be a week-long celebration of the oldest form of the game. A format that is rooted in tradition and features the best that the game has to offer. I would also like to congratulate both India and New Zealand for becoming part of history by reaching the first final,” Geoff Allardice, ICC General Manager, Cricket, said.
“We are confident that in selecting the Hampshire Bowl, we have given ourselves the best possible chance to successfully deliver the final whilst keeping everyone involved safe and healthy and giving fans the opportunity to watch the two best Test teams in the world go head-to-head for the right to call themselves the ICC World Test Champions.”
After beating England 3-1 in the series of four Test matches, India qualified for the World Test Championship final.
