ICC World Test Championship: Team India Now Just 2 Wins Away From Qualifying For The Final As Australia South Africa Series Gets Postponed

The Indian Cricket Team is now just two wins away from qualifying the ICC World Test Championship after the bilateral series between Australia and South Africa got postponed on Tuesday. Notably, South Africa and Australia were slated to play a 3-match Test series which was a part of the ICC World Test Championship.

New Zealand have now become the first team to qualify for the final of the World Test Championship. Notably, the Indian Cricket Team is now at the top of the World Test Championship Points Table and they have to play a four-match Test series against England, beginning from February 05.

Team India Now Just 2 Wins Away From The Final Of ICC World Test Championship

The Indian Cricket Team is now just 2 wins away from qualifying for the final of the Test Championship. If they manage to win the England series by 4-0, 3-1, 2-1, or 2-0, team India will definitely qualify for the final of WTC. England can only qualify for the final if they beat India by 4-0, 3-0, or 3-1.

New Zealand have finished with all their series which were a part of the World Test Championship and hence, they have become the first team to qualify for the final of the tournament. The final is all slated to take place on June 18 at Lord’s Cricket Ground in England. India and New Zealand are most likely the finalists if the South Africa-Australia series gets postponed even further.

Australia And South Africa Series Postponed

The three-match Test series between Australia and South Africa has been postponed due to the worsening COVID-19 situation in South Africa. The Australians were all set to fly to South Africa and had named their 19-men squad with Tim Paine being the skipper of the side.

“Due to the public health situation in South Africa, which includes a second wave and new variant of the virus, and following extensive due diligence with medical experts, it has become clear that travelling from Australia to South Africa at this current time poses an unacceptable level of health and safety risk to our players, support staff and the community,” an official statement read.

“We acknowledge the significant amount of work by CSA in planning for the tour, during which we made it clear that CA was prepared to take on additional cost and effort to make the series happen,” the statement read.

“This decision has not been made lightly and we are extremely disappointed, especially given the importance of continuing international cricket at this time, our valued relationship with CSA, and our aspirations to compete in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship.”

“However, we have been consistent since the start of the pandemic that the health and safety of our people is always our number one priority and unfortunately despite best efforts to agree to a biosecurity plan, the risks are simply too great at this time,” the statement further read.

“As difficult and disappointing a decision as this is, especially for Justin, Tim and the team, we have a duty of care to our people and their health and safety can’t be compromised. “We look forward to playing the series against CSA at a date to be confirmed in due course and we send CSA and the people of South Africa our very best wishes for a successful rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine and a return to normality soon.”

Australia’s chances of making it to the Lord’s final in June have taken a big hit as they have to rely on other results to go their way. As of February 2, 2021, India are on top of the World Test Championship table 71.7 Percentage of Points (PCT).