The ICC is considering expanding the World Test Championship to include Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, and Ireland, with a proposal to be presented to the Board of Directors.
'If you end up finding yourself in the position where you happen to be in that World Test Championship final, then it is great, but it is a real weird one knowing that you are playing for something over a long period of time.'
There was much criticism of how South Africa managed to reach the final without playing either Australia and England in the two-year qualifying period.
The 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final will be played at the iconic Lord's cricket ground from June 11 to 15 next year.
The draw in the second Test saw India miss out on a chance to improve their position in the ICC World Test Championship standings.
The points table of the ICC World Test Championship.
Pakistan's cricket team has been fined 50 per cent of their match fee and docked 11 World Test Championship points due to a slow over-rate during their third Test against England in Birmingham, a match they lost by 8 wickets, contributing to a 0-3 series whitewash.
England have called up pacer Sonny Baker to their squad for the second ICC World Test Championship clash against Pakistan, replacing Brydon Carse, who has been omitted while the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) investigates an incident from the weekend.
South African pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against Australia due to a right hamstring strain and faces uncertainty regarding his participation in the subsequent three-match Test series.
Pakistan pacer Mohammad Abbas expressed deep concern over the team's persistent issues, including poor fielding and an inexperienced pace attack, following their heavy 194-run defeat to England at Lord's, marking their 10th loss in 11 away Tests.
Mohammed Shami, despite being out of international contention since 2025, is making a strong case for a Test team comeback through his exceptional performances in domestic cricket.
In the World Test Championship final in June, New Zealand, in all likelihood, will meet either India or England, who will clash in a four-Test series, starting on Friday.
Shuffle in WTC Standings After Pakistan sanctions
Sri Lanka Cricket has announced a 16-member squad for the first Test against India, featuring the return of wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella.
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has become the country's highest run-scorer in ICC World Test Championship history, surpassing Shubman Gill, and also overtook MS Dhoni as India's highest run-scorer as a designated wicketkeeper in away or neutral Tests.
Rishabh Pant has surpassed Adam Gilchrist to become the third-highest six-hitter in Test cricket, achieving the feat during India's second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam sustained a hand injury during a warm-up match, raising concerns about his availability for the upcoming three-match Test series against England, which is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27.
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has decided to send separate teams for the U23 and Senior World Wrestling Championships due to the short time gap between the two events, forcing wrestlers to choose which tournament to compete in. This decision aims to ensure optimal preparation and performance for both Indian teams.
Australia has announced a 13-man squad for the upcoming two-Test home series against Bangladesh, featuring the return of captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon from injury. The series, part of the World Test Championship, sees competition for fast bowling spots with Scott Boland's strong performance, while Jake Weatherald and Cameron Green retain their places despite recent struggles. The squad aims to solidify Australia's top position in the WTC standings.
Australian left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc has become the leading wicket-taker in ICC World Test Championship (WTC) history, surpassing teammates Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon.
Southampton's Utilita Bowl will host a men's Ashes Test for the first time in 2025, as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced the concurrent scheduling of the men's and women's Ashes series against Australia, mirroring the successful 2023 format.
India captain Shubman Gill has indicated that Prasidh Krishna is likely to share the new ball with Mohammed Siraj in the upcoming first Test against Sri Lanka.
Pakistan slipped to eighth in the World Test Championship standings following their 10-wicket loss to Bangladesh.
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has implemented a new two-stage trial system for the 2026 Senior World Championships. This policy allows wrestlers participating in the Asian Games to also compete for a spot in the World Championships team through a "final trial," addressing the overlap between the two major events. The first phase of trials is scheduled for September 14-15, with specific provisions for certain weight categories and U23 championships.
Bangladesh have moved above India to fourth position in the ICC World Test Championship standings after securing a historic nine-wicket victory against Australia in the first Test in Darwin.
India captain Virat Kohli says the competition in the traditional format has "gone up two-fold" in recent years.
Bangladesh secured a historic nine-wicket victory over Australia in Darwin, marking their first-ever Test win on Australian soil, powered by Tanzid Hasan's century and Mehidy Hasan Miraz's five-wicket haul.
The Oval in London has been confirmed as the venue for the 2027 ICC World Test Championship Final, scheduled from June 9-13. This marks the second time The Oval will host the final, having previously done so in 2023. Nine teams are currently competing in the ongoing WTC cycle, with Australia leading the standings, followed by South Africa and New Zealand, as the race intensifies with crucial upcoming series.
India have never looked so vulnerable in Test cricket in recent times. They need a complete reset of their approach to Test cricket, and perhaps a new coach with fresh ideas could revitalise Shubman Gill and his boys.
Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc dethroned Jasprit Bumrah to reach a career-high No. 1 in the ICC Test rankings for bowlers, after a stellar 10-wicket haul against Bangladesh.
India are yet to drop a point in the nine-team championship, having won three series in a row.
Former head coach Rahul Dravid believes India have 'fallen behind' in the World Test Championship final qualification race, highlighting the upcoming New Zealand series as a significant challenge for the young team.
India A will play three four-day matches against New Zealand A in Christchurch starting October 24, serving as a crucial build-up for the senior Indian team's two-Test series against New Zealand later in the tour. These matches are part of New Zealand Cricket's domestic red-ball schedule.
Former Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane believes India's recent Test struggles stem from the departure of senior players, emphasising the need for a core of seven to eight experienced cricketers in the longer format.
Masters champions Patrick Reed and Bubba Watson are confirmed to make their debut at the DP World India Championship in October. They will join a stellar field including Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, and Justin Rose, with Indian stars Shubhankar Sharma and Anirban Lahiri also participating.
Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf has expressed his strong desire to play Test cricket, aiming for a spot in the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, as the team grapples with significant struggles in its pace department.
Eran Wickramaratne, chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket's interim committee, has called for a revision of the ICC's Future Tours Programme to allow Sri Lanka to play more Test matches against cricketing powerhouses like India, England, and Australia, citing the financial dependence on India and the desire to excel in the format.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir has expressed confidence in his team's readiness for the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka, starting August 15. Gambhir also welcomed new squad members Saransh Jain and Auqib Nabi, emphasising the team's preparation for their first ICC World Test Championship assignment since a previous home defeat.
Ayush Shetty, Unnati Hooda, Simran Singhi, and Kavipriya Selvam are set to make their BWF World Championships debut as India hosts the prestigious badminton event after 17 years, offering a significant platform for these rising stars.
India's two-Test series against hosts Sri Lanka will be played in Galle and Colombo from August 15 to 27.
