Major updates from ICC Annual General Meeting on WTC venues and two new members

A major update has arrived on the third day of the annual general meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC) as England has been confirmed to host the next three World Test Championship (WTC) finals in 2027, 2029, and 2031, after the side’s successful event in the first seasons of the tournament in 2021, 2023 and 2025 in Southampton, Oval and Lord’s.

Discussion was going on the points for a few days after India decided to bid for the next final during this year’s red-ball contest at the Home of Cricket between South Africa and Australia, where the former earned a vital five-wicket victory. In Singapore, during the annual meeting, the ICC cited that the ECB’s successful track record has given them the chance to host the finals.

See Also: [WATCH] Kumar Sangakkara recalls first meeting with Vaibhav Suryavanshi before IPL 2025

‘We are absolutely delighted that England and Wales have been chosen to host the next three ICC World Test Championship Finals. It's a testament to the passion that fans in this country have for this treasured format of the game and the willingness of supporters from around the world to travel here for these games.’ Richard Gould, the chief executive of the England Cricket Board (ECB), expressed in a statement.

England confirmed to host next three WTC finals in ICC Annual General Meeting

Gould added that ‘Hosting these finals is a privilege, and we look forward to working with the ICC to build on the success of the previous editions.’ June also remains the best window for the game, just after the exclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL), as that will also be the best time, with not many scheduled international fixtures in a year.

One of the best reasons for the decision is the weather, which is suitable for the crowd and can attract neutral fans, as it has already during the last three editions of the tournament. The atmosphere at Lord’s was noted at the recent WTC final with ICC’s chair, Jay Shah, enthused by the occasion between two neutral sides.

On the other hand, a few reports have also claimed that no decision has been made as to whether Lord’s will remain the preferred host for the final. Meanwhile, two new members have joined the ICC family to make it a total membership of 110 members, with the Leste Cricket Federation and Zambia Cricket Union formally becoming the Associate members of the ICC.