The ICC has recently announced the dates for the WTC 2025 final, with England set to host the event once again. Lord’s will host the final from June 11-15, 2025. In the past two WTC cycles, England has hosted the finals, but there is now speculation about whether the next WTC cycle final might be held elsewhere in the world. The next WTC cycle is scheduled from 2025 to 2027 and will start just after next year’s final. Since Jay Shah is set to take over as ICC chairman from December 1, speculation is high that there could be changes in venues. If that happens, which venue could the ICC prefer for the WTC final in 2027? Let’s take a look at three venues that the ICC might consider.
Venues ICC could choose for the WTC 2027 final
MCG
The first well-established alternative venue that could be considered is the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Australia. It has the capacity to accommodate 100,024 people, with 95,024 seating spaces for the public and more than 4,500 standing room spaces, along with six large light towers. The MCG is renowned for hosting many historic and memorable matches. Given its reputation, there is no question that the ICC would consider this venue if they decide to move the WTC final out of England.
Cape Town
When it comes to yielding results, there is no question that South Africa have been an excellent country for Test matches where you can expect results than draws. In the past five years, from September 2019 to September 2024, South Africa has hosted 15 Test matches, with more than 70% of these games yielding results. Newlands in Cape Town has been particularly notable, with its unpredictable bounce and challenging batting conditions making it an interesting pitch for the WTC final. However, with a seating capacity of just 25,000, Newlands might pose a challenge if the ICC is looking to promote the game and prefers a stadium with a higher capacity.
Eden Gardens
When it comes to India, Eden Gardens could be a strong candidate to host the WTC final. We have witnessed many historic games there, with a total of 42 Test matches played and a seating capacity of 63,000. Eden Gardens could be an ideal venue for the ICC to host the WTC final, initially offering spin-friendly pitches. However, in recent years, green pitches have been frequently used to add some spice and assist pace bowlers. With a decent record of yielding results and its large capacity, Eden Gardens could be a preferable choice for the ICC.
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