Australia might not finally qualify for the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) final to be held at Lord’s in June 2021, even if England manages to defeat India in the fourth and final Test.
If visitors England wins the last 4th Test against India, then Australia was to qualify for the WTC final against already qualified New Zealand. But, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is now looking to bring forward Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) formal complaint against Cricket Australia (CA) if the latter qualifies for the WTC final.
Australia Postponed 3 Test Tour Of South Africa Citing Unacceptable Covid-19 Risk
Earlier this year, Australia postponed its three Tests tour of South Africa due to the rising Covid-19 pandemic in the rainbow nation and as a result, CSA lodged a formal complaint with the apex board ICC, seeking financial compensation and deduction in WTC points for the Kangaroos.
After initially agreeing to visit South Africa for three Tests, CA recently decided to postpone the tour, citing ‘unacceptable’ coronavirus risk.
Cricket South Africa claims that Australia’s decision to pull out raises questions over the credibility of the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC). With the Australia-South Africa series postponed, New Zealand became the first team to qualify for the final of the World Test Championship (WTC).
Australia’s Points May Be Deducted Which Means The Team Stand Eliminated Even If England Wins The 4th Test Against India
The decision may come from ICC to deduct points from the Kangaroos which means the side would be eliminated from the inaugural WTC even if England wins the final Test against India. CA has been given an appropriate time until the end of this week to meet the deadline set by the ICC to inform whether the matter can be resolved through good faith negotiations.
If that doesn’t happen, then the matter would be transferred from the dispute committee of the ICC, and it would be given to an independent panel, and they would be deciding whether CA was within its right to postpone the series in South Africa.
The independent panel may also decide to award full 120 points for the postponed three Tests to South Africa. And, if that happens, it would ensure that Australia finishes below India even if Virat Kohli‘s team is beaten by England in the fourth and final Test in Ahmedabad. On the other hand, the panel may also decide to give the two boards CSA and Cricket Australia an opportunity to find an alternative date for the series before the current FTP finishes in April 2023.