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England has been granted the hosting rights for the next three ICC World Test Championship (WTC) finals, dealing a blow to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), who had hoped to host the prestigious event in India starting from 2027.
The decision, which was confirmed at the ICC’s annual conference in Singapore, follows months of deliberation. England’s successful track record in hosting previous WTC finals was a key factor in the outcome, with the country set to host the 2027, 2029, and 2031 finals.
While the BCCI, led by former secretary Jay Shah, had pushed for the finals to be held in India to capitalise on commercial opportunities, logistical challenges and England’s proven ability to deliver packed stadiums ultimately swayed the decision.
“The ECB’s successful history of hosting major finals, including packed stadiums and flawless organisation, made them the obvious choice,” said Richard Gould, CEO of the England and Wales Cricket Board.
Though India has featured in the first two WTC finals, both of which ended in defeat, the ICC has resisted pressure to relocate the event to India.
The WTC final takes place in June, a time when England’s climate is more conducive to hosting international cricket than the warmer conditions in India.
Despite the commercial appeal of staging the final in India, where the BCCI’s financial power looms large, the ICC favoured England’s consistent ability to guarantee sell-out crowds for neutral matches.
While specific venues for the future finals have yet to be confirmed, Lord’s remains a strong contender, having received praise for its atmosphere during the 2025 edition.
Despite England’s dominance in securing the next three WTC finals, the BCCI may continue its pursuit of hosting rights in future cycles, particularly as global dynamics evolve and pressure for greater geographic diversity in hosting major cricket events increases.
