NEW DELHI: The World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and New Zealand in June has been moved from Lord’s to Southampton because of the pandemic, Indian cricket chief Sourav Ganguly said.

The inaugural championship’s final had long been planned for Lord’s, known as the ‘home of cricket’, in London.

But Ganguly told Indian media that Southampton’s Ageas Bowl was preferred because the venue has a built-in hotel. The date of the final has not yet been announced.

“I’m looking forward to attending the WTC final between India and New Zealand in Southampton,” the BCCI president said. “It was decided long time ago. Due to Covid and they [in Southampton] have the hotel absolutely close.

“When England resumed play after Covid, they had a lot of matches in Southampton due to the same reason.”

England played all their home Tests last year — against West Indies and Pakistan — in bio-secure ‘bubble’ conditions at Southampton and Manchester’s Old Trafford, which also has hotel facilities.

India confirmed their place in the final last week by beating England 3-1 in their home Test series.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2021