Aakash Chopra Not Satisfied With The Playing Conditions Of The ICC World Test Championship Final

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has expressed doubts about the playing conditions of the ICC World Test Championship final. India and New Zealand will lock horns in the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship final in Southampton, beginning on the 18th of June, to claim the ultimate prize in the format. However, Aakash Chopra expressed unhappiness over joint-winners declaration in case the decider ends in a draw or tie.

On Friday, the ICC finalized the playing conditions for the decider between India and New Zealand, announcing that both sides will share the trophy if the Test results in a draw or tie. The apex body of the sport has also allocated a reserve day to ensure full five days of play. But it would come into the equation only if lost playing time cannot be recovered through the standard provisions of making up lost time each day. Furthermore, there would be no additional day’s play if no result arrives even after the full five days.

Aakash Chopra understands that ICC wants a tie-breaker; however, if a two-year tournament does not result in a winner, he sees no point. According to the 43-year old, it leaves a sour taste in the mouth and has issues with the reserve day not coming into play if one of the first five days gets lost due to the weather.

“If the final match is a draw, both the teams will be declared as the joint winners. I do understand that you do not want a tie-breaker but if it is a two-year-long tournament and still you cannot call a team the champion, it just does not sound right, personally it leaves a sour taste in the mouth. Another thing is that a reserve day has been kept but that reserve day will only be used if the overs from the first five days are left due to the weather. The sixth day will not be used if the match ends when you needed say a couple of wickets and the opposition team required 125 runs,” Aakash Chopra told in his Youtube channel.

Aakash Chopra suggests changes to the ICC World Test Championship final playing conditions:

Aakash Chopra further said that it helps to add a seventh day since the teams could keep playing as long as possible to achieve a result. The cricketer-turned-commentator reminded that there have been timeless Tests before, even though it has not happened in recent times. Aakash Chopra also feels that it could be a three-match series and that the third Test could occur only if a winner remains undetermined after two. He thinks that it’s unjustified for two outfits to play the final of a two-year competition in a neutral venue.

“Firstly, if you have kept an extra day, I would say add a seventh day as well, play for as long as you get a winner. I know it has not happened for a long while but timeless Tests used to be there. If you have already kept a sixth day, why not use it to get the result. Secondly, you can make it a three-match series. If you win the first two matches, it’s over. The third match will only be played if you don’t have a winner after the first two matches. If you play just the one Test, that too in an alien country, after a two-year-long tournament, that should not be the case,” he added.

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