The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that the 2025 World Test Championship final will be held at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London from June 11th to 15th. This will be the first time the iconic venue will host the one-off Test, marking a significant shift from The Oval, which hosted the previous two finals.
India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, has confirmed his desire to continue playing white-ball cricket despite retiring from T20 Internationals earlier this year. He is also focused on leading India to victory in the upcoming World Test Championship, aiming to add the elusive trophy to the nation’s cabinet. Sharma’s commitment comes after a successful T20 World Cup win in June and a string of victories in the current World Test Championship cycle.
Heavy rain forced the postponement of the opening day of the second Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. The match, a crucial encounter in the World Test Championship, remains uncertain with the weather forecast unclear. Bangladesh leads the series 1-0 after a dominant victory in the first Test.
Bangladesh’s preparations for their upcoming two-Test series in Pakistan have been heavily impacted by political unrest back home. The team’s foreign coaches were forced to stay indoors due to safety concerns, while protests hindered practice sessions. Despite these challenges, Bangladesh will be hoping to overcome their dismal record against Pakistan and make a mark in the World Test Championship.
South Africa’s series victory over West Indies in the Caribbean has boosted their chances of reaching the World Test Championship final in 2024. Despite facing a tough road ahead, the team is confident and aiming to win at least five of their remaining six matches.
Pakistan’s Test captain, Shan Masood, emphasizes the need for his team to master home conditions and secure consistent wins before aiming for international success and a World Test Championship final berth. Masood acknowledges the team’s struggles in capitalizing on home advantage since international cricket returned to Pakistan in 2019, highlighting the need for a winning formula to overcome the challenges of adjusting to home conditions after a decade-long absence. He emphasizes the importance of discovering the ideal playing style that suits Pakistan’s strengths and puts them in a commanding position.
England secured a dominant 241-run victory over West Indies in the second Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, propelling them to sixth place in the World Test Championship standings. This win marks England’s fifth in the tournament, while West Indies, suffering its second consecutive defeat, drops to the bottom of the table.
BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has confirmed that senior players will likely feature in the Champions Trophy and World Test Championship final if India qualifies. He also stated that the decision on Hardik Pandya’s potential T20 captaincy will be solely decided by the selectors.
