ICC turns down India's request to host future WTC finals
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has turned down the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) request to host the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) Finals, confirming that the next three finals — in 2027, 2029, and 2031 — will continue to be held in England, according to a report.
Despite repeated calls from the BCCI to rotate the WTC final among different Test-playing nations, the ICC has decided to maintain its current strategy of hosting the final in England.
As reported by The Telegraph UK, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has already been informed of the ICC's decision to stage the next three finals in the country.
Since the WTC was introduced in 2019, England has hosted all of its finals. New Zealand defeated India in the inaugural edition at Southampton in 2021, and Australia beat India at The Oval in 2023. The ongoing 2025 final between Australia and South Africa is currently taking place at Lord's Cricket Ground in London.
"English cricket is close to securing hosting rights for the next three WTC finals, despite India's strong interest in bringing the event home," the report stated.
The final decision will likely be formalised during the ICC's Annual Conference in Singapore next month, with planning for the 2027 final expected to begin shortly after the current edition concludes. Interestingly, although England has hosted every WTC final so far, its national team is yet to make an appearance in one. However, the ICC continues to choose England as the host due to commercial benefits and convenient logistics.
Markram enters elite club
South Africa's Aiden Markram etched his name into the record books on Friday by scoring a remarkable century in the fourth innings of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final against Australia at Lord's.
After being dismissed for a duck in the first innings, Markram bounced back with a composed and unbeaten 102 off 159 balls on Day 3, helping South Africa take control of the match. His knock puts him alongside Australia's Travis Head and Steve Smith as only the third batter to score a hundred in a WTC final.
Head scored 163 and Smith 121 during the 2023 WTC final against India.
Batters to score a century in a WTC Final: Travis Head (AUS): 163 vs India, 2023, Steve Smith (AUS): 121 vs India, 2023, Aiden Markram (SA): 102* vs Australia, 2025.
Markram's century is also historic for South African cricket. He became the first South African to score a hundred in the fourth innings of a Test at Lord's. Additionally, he is the first overseas player to achieve this feat at the iconic ground since Michael Clarke did so in 2009.