Team India coach Ravi Shastri has given a big statement before leaving for England for the World Test Championship final. He said that the ICC needs to make some changes in the rules of the final. The WTC Finals should be a 3-match series. Based on this the winner should be selected.
Earlier, former India captain Kapil Dev had also raised this issue. He had said that the winner should have been decided on the basis of three Tests instead of one Test. The only final match will be played between India and New Zealand from June 18 to June 22 at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton.
Ravi Shastri said- If ICC wants to continue this championship, then best of 3 will be right. However, the ICC will have to end it as soon as possible because of the Future Tour Program (FTP). Our players have earned this final. They have played matches in difficult conditions in the last few years and snatched the victories. For us to reach the final is a big win.
Shastri said- This is the first World Test Championship final. Its importance will be more than the matches so far. Test is the toughest format of cricket. The test tests the ability and patience of the players. This tournament is not running for any 3 months, but is being played for the last 2 years. We are the number 1 team in the world for some time now. Our challenge will not end with this tournament alone. We have to always keep the standard of Indian cricket high.
Shastri said- It is like football. If a team wins the Champions League, it doesn't stop there. The team continues to work hard to win this competition. Similarly, we want to maintain our supremacy by winning the final this time as well.
Earlier, Kapil Dev had said – It is a good thing that steps are being taken by the ICC to popularize Test matches. I am sure people will like it. I believe if the World Test Final Championship was of three Test matches, it would have been good.
The former Indian captain further said that it would have been better if the final was played at Lord's instead of the Rose Bowl. Lauder's has a history. Manchester could have been a good option too, but lifting the trophy at Lord's is a different kind of fun.
The Indian team will leave for England on Wednesday on a chartered flight. The women's cricket team will also travel to England in the same flight. Both the teams will reach London on Thursday. The men's team will have to follow strict quarantine rules in Southampton and the women's team in Bristol for 3 days. During this, every day corona examination of the players will also be done. After this the players will be allowed to practice in small groups. After 10 days players will be able to do normal practice.
