ICC World Test Championship Set To Be Rescheduled: Report

The ongoing deadly coronavirus pandemic is set to affect yet another cricket tournament in the form of the ICC World Test Championship. Cricket events around the world have been suspended in the wake of the outbreak. Earlier this month, all the major cricket nations in the world called off their international and domestic fixtures.

The BCCI suspended the IPL till April 15 in addition to calling off the ODI series against South Africa. The way things are unfolding at the moment, it would not be at all surprising if the IPL 2020 is cancelled altogether. PM Narendra Modi, on Tuesday, announced that India would be under complete lockdown for the next 21 days.

Pakistan Cricket Board had to do the same with the Pakistan Super League just before the knockout stage of the competition. The likes of Australia, New Zealand, West Indies, South Africa, Bangladesh also did the same with their fixtures. A report now suggests the Test Championship final which was due to be hosted next year could also be rescheduled or cancelled.

The inaugural edition of the ICC World Test Championship started after the conclusion of World Cup last year. The tournament is scheduled to run until 2021 with the final set to be hosted at the Lord’s in June. However, the ongoing pandemic has put the future of the tournament in doubt.

“At present, the ICC is considering the options available to us regarding the World Test Championship and no decisions have been taken,” an ICC spokesperson said according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

There are also speculations that the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020 could be postponed or cancelled. The tournament is scheduled to start on October 18. While their is still time to take the final call, the current situation around the world is not promising at all.

The ICC is supposed to conduct a conference call with boards of all 12-Test playing nations in order to decide the future of international cricket. The decision on conducting the men’s T20 World Cup later this year would be taken in the same meeting.

As far as the ICC Test Championship is concerned, India are currently at the top of the points table with 360 points. Australia are second behind India with 296 points while New Zealand are at the third position, far behind with 180 points.

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