ICC planning to move WTC final out of Lord's
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Lord's the home of cricket was scheduled to host the final of the World Test Championship (WTC), however the legendary ground is currently out of the competition with three stadiums Ageas Bowl in Southampton, Edgbaston in Birmingham and Old Trafford in Manchester who are fighting to host the Grand Final.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) said the venue has not yet been finalised but the executive members, along the boards and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), have checked the preparedness of Ageas Bowl, Southampton. It was at the top of the list because of the facilities at the ground.
The Ageas Bowl in Southampton features a five-star hotel attached to the stadium, providing plenty of logistical and operational convenience in times of bio-secure bubbles. Southampton hosted matches between England and West Indies and Pakistan.
"I can't give much information apart from the fact that there has been discussion about it, I am the chairman of Southampton and I can say we have been asked to stage it and also inquired if Southampton is available. I don't know if anything has been finally decided as yet," said Southampton chairman Rod Bransgrove to Cricbuzz.
It was questioned if the Lord is out of the race, however, the spokesman for the Marylebone Cricket Club, which runs the ground, has remained non-committal.
"The MCC has been working with the ICC and the ECB in relation to planning for the World Test Championship Final. As yet, no definitive decision has been taken in relation to the location of the final. This will be announced by the ICC in due course," the spokesman for the MCC told Cricbuzz.
The ICC is expected to announce the venue soon, India and New Zealand will lock horns in the final of the ICC World Test Championship which has been scheduled to be played from June 18 to 22.
