ICC confident World Test Championship final will go ahead as planned despite UK ‘red list’ over Covid-19 surge

The ICC on Monday said it is confident that the World Test Championship final will be held as scheduled in Southampton despite UK adding India to its travel 'red list' amid the surge of Covid-19 cases in the Asian country.

The International Cricket Council on Monday said that it is confident of hosting the World Test Championship final as scheduled despite the worsening Covid-19 situation, especially in India. The final of the inaugural edition of the Test Championship will be played at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton from June 18 to 22 between India and New Zealand. Notably, the United Kingdom on Monday added India to its travel 'red list', banning arrivals from the country as the Asian country is experience a second wave of Covid-19 pandemic. However, the ICC is confident of staging the event as planned. "We are currently discussing with the UK Government the impact of countries being on the 'red list'," an ICC spokesperson said.