In a groundbreaking development, India and England emerge as the hot favorites to host the World Test Championship (WTC) Finals of the next three WTC cycles in 2027, 2029, and 2031. The final of the ongoing WTC cycle is currently being staged at Lord's in England. Before the ongoing cycle, England also played host to the Final match of the earlier editions of the WTC in 2021 and 2023. 

The chair of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Arun Singh Dhumal, conveyed to the International Cricket Council (ICC) in April that it would like to host the next final in 2027. Given the global influence that the BCCI possesses, the move is now being seen as overwhelmingly likely. If the rumours hold true, then the cricketing world is likely going to see a new nation play host to the next World Test Championship (WTC) Finals in 2027 and beyond. As per emerging reports, the final call will be taken in the ICC's upcoming AGM meeting. 

See also: Watch: Temba Bavuma saved by DRS! Huge controversy in AUS vs SA WTC Final match

India and England jostle to host the upcoming WTC Finals

🚨 REPORTS 🚨

India and England are in contention to host the finals of the WTC in 2027, 2029, and 2031. 🏟️

The final decision will be taken at the next ICC AGM. 🤝#ICC #WTC #India #England pic.twitter.com/uqHMcXlUss

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) June 14, 2025

Historically speaking, it was India that hosted the first ODI World Cup outside of English soil in 1987, along with Pakistan. If stars align, we may see a similar pattern repeat. India will emerge as the first country after England to ever host a WTC Final. India have previously made it to the finals of the 2021 and 2023 WTC editions but failed to triumph. With a high probability of India making it to nearly every WTC final, one can expect a buzzing atmosphere to ensue if the WTC Final is held in India in the presence of their home crowd. 

The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad can be shortlisted as one of the key venues that can potentially host the iconic WTC final. With a huge stadium capacity that can take more than 100,000 visitors, the stadium provides an unforgettable experience and a vibe that tends to be etched in the hearts and memories of the fans. 

The growing influence of Indian cricket administrators is once again making headlines, as reports claim that officials from India played an underhanded role in blocking Pakistan’s attempts to host the remaining matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025. A report by Cricbuzz said that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) officially declined a request from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to host the remainder of the PSL season in England — assuming that Indian officials’ diplomatic nudge wasn’t the final straw. 

Sources who are close to the conclusion are obvious Indian cricket officials, particularly BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, who considerably influenced the decision for the ECB to turn down Pakistan’s request. The PCB's request to host the remainder of the PSL in England came after a series of logistical and security issues made it nearly impossible to stage the rest of the league in Pakistan. Following discussions, England was decided on as a feasible alternative that would be neutral for both teams, and Pakistani officials thought it would not cause undue harm to their brands. However, Indian officials did not want the Pakistani brand to grow any foundation on English soil, especially with multiple logistical concerns being raised in the UK and high stakes for broadcast and commercial exposure.

Jay Shah’s well-documented connections with cricket boards in the UAE and other international venues are believed to have played a pivotal role in swaying decisions. He is becoming more prominent in the global cricket administration landscape, including influence within the ICC, and connects with officials across national boards. These factors have strengthened India's voice in international cricket issues, which is already very loud, and this event illustrates how soft power and necessary diplomacy are increasingly influencing the geopolitical story of cricket.

India’s Strategic Cricket Diplomacy Continues to Shape Global Tournaments

This isn’t the first time India’s cricket board has influenced the international scheduling or venue dynamics. The BCCI has often relied on its enormous commercial power (and relationships) to either endorse or indirectly stop rivals from a hosting perspective. As India remains the largest market for cricket viewing and sponsorship, such action is mainly based on long-term strategies.

🚨 INDIAN CRICKET ADMINISTRATORS ON ROLL 🚨

- ECB declined PCB's request to host the remaining matches of PSL 2025 after nudge from Indian Cricket Administrators. [Cricbuzz]

Jay Shah's strong links with UAE's leadership & cricket board are understood to have played a… pic.twitter.com/Y46dKX6JyK

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 10, 2025

Also Read: How much money did BCCI lose per game due to IPL 2025 suspension?

For Pakistan, this rejection is indeed a significant setback, not only for its signature event but also for its wider ambition for recovery and to rehabilitate its presence in global cricket. As India starts to cement its authority both administratively and diplomatically, boards like the PCB will need to start thinking about international coordination, especially the informal endorsement of BCCI.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has made a controversial decision to spark a debate by banning transgender cricketers from women's cricket. 

It is a big debate in the entire sports world whether the transgenders should be allowed in women's sports or not. On April 15, the UK Supreme Court unanimously ruled that a woman is defined by biological sex under equality law. With this updated legal status, the ECB has come up the new decision about the transwomen.   

See Also: England name 13-man squad for one-off Test against Zimbabwe

ECB bans transwomen in women's cricket with immediate effect

The ECB has clarified that the transwomen aren't now eligible to serve in women's cricket. However, transgender women and girls are eligible to play in open and mixed cricket. 

The ECB official statement claims, "With immediate effect, only those whose biological sex is female will be eligible to play in women’s cricket and girls’ cricket matches. Transgender women and girls can continue playing in open and mixed cricket."  

In their official statement, the ECB further added, "Our regulations for recreational cricket have always aimed at ensuring that cricket remains as inclusive a sport as possible. These included measures to manage disparities, irrespective of someone’s gender, and safeguard the enjoyment of all players."

However, due to the latest Supreme Court ruling, the ECB believes that its latest changes are necessary. 

In November 2023, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that transgender women who had gone through male puberty were banned from playing in international women's matches.

ECB working with the Recreational Cricket Boards

The ECB understands that this decision will have a significant impact on transgender women and girls in the sport. Meanwhile, they are ready to work with the Recreational Cricket Boards to support impacted people. 

According to the BBC report, "the judges ruled that interpreting sex as "certificated" rather than "biological" would "cut across the definitions of man and "woman and thus the protected characteristic of sex in an incoherent way".