Ahmedabad, Melbourne as WTC final venues? Ravi Shastri suggests alternatives
What's the story
Former Indian cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri has suggested that the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final could be held at different venues, including Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium, in the future. He made this suggestion while speaking on a Wisden Cricket podcast. The idea comes after South Africa recently clinched their first-ever WTC title by defeating Australia at Lord's, London. Notably, all three WTC finals have been held in the UK so far.
Venue debate
Shastri's thoughts on WTC final venues
Shastri believes that once the WTC final gains more popularity, it would be logical to move it to bigger venues. He said, "I think to start off initially, it's good if it's here (Lord's) actually. Once it gets the popularity and eyebrows it deserves, then it can start shifting." He also suggested Melbourne Cricket Ground as a potential venue for future WTC finals.
Capacity consideration
'Ahmedabad can be a great place...'
Shastri stressed the importance of crowd capacity in selecting venues for the WTC final. He said, "Ahmedabad can be a great place for the WTC final. Basically, the places where you can draw a crowd. Because Lord's is not a 100,000-seater stadium." Notably, the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad played host to the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup final between India and Australia.
Future plans
England to host WTC finals for next two cycles
Despite Shastri's suggestions, reports indicate that England is likely to host the WTC finals for the following two cycles as well. The ICC's Future Tours Program has confirmed that the 2027 WTC final will also be held at Lord's. This decision comes after India's bid to host the same was rejected by the ICC due to England's favorable conditions and history of hosting neutral Tests.