BCCI has expressed interest in bidding for hosting WTC 2027 Final: Reports

The stage is set for the upcoming ICC World Test Championship 2023, which is scheduled to be played between Australia and South Africa. The high-octane final will be hosted by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Notably, the England Cricket Board also hosted the finals of the previous two editions of the World Test Championship in 2019 and 2021.

Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has expressed and submitted its intention to bid for the ICC World Test Championship 2027 Final, two years later. A report in The Guardian understands that the recent development happened at a meeting of the ICC’s chief executives committee in Zimbabwe last month.

“The Guardian has learned that India expressed their intention to bid for the 2027 final at a meeting of the ICC’s chief executives committee in Zimbabwe last month. The Board of Control for Cricket in India is represented on the ICC committee by its chief executive, Arun Singh Dhumal, while his predecessor, Jay Shah, is chair of the ICC, so a formal Indian bid would be regarded as a fait accompli,” read the report in The Guardian.

WTC 2027 Final reported to be moved out of England

The final of the first WTC cycle in 2021 was played at the Rose Bowl in Hampshire between India and New Zealand. New Zealand won the first WTC final to win their first ever ICC title in history. Later in the final of the second WTC cycle in 2023 was played at The Oval between India and Australia.

Now, the upcoming WTC 2025 final will be played from June 11 to June 25 at the iconic cricket mecca, Lord’s in London, between Australia and South Africa.

Meanwhile, the Guardian report added further, “While the England and Wales Cricket Board had not assumed it would host the WTC final in perpetuity, the English summer and a strong domestic ticket market, regardless of which teams qualify, make it a natural venue. The ECB is understood to be pushing for a quick decision, as it will need time to arrange an additional home Test for England in 2027 if the WTC final is taken elsewhere. The ICC has concerns about taking the WTC final to India, however, chiefly the prospect of poor ticket sales should India fail to qualify. Next month’s final at Lord’s is sold out for the first four days, while the 2023 final at the Oval was also sold out despite England not being involved.”