For the first time since September 2019, fans were allowed to play cricket in England on Wednesday (19 May), significantly increasing the odds of spectators playing in India's World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand next month. About 1,500 people have entered the English district championship match between Hampshire and Leicestershire at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, where the final of the WTC will take place on 18 June.
"Starting today, we host a four-day county match. For the first time since September 2019, fans can play a cricket match in England. The other county matches in this round will start tomorrow, and so will this game." Look at the crowd, "Hampshire County Club director Rod Bransgrove told Southampton's Cricbuzz, confirming that the WTC final will have a good turnout.
According to him, the Cricket Council of England and Wales (ECB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) allowed an audience of 4,000 people to test matches. "I understand that 50% of the allowance will be taken over by the ICC to sponsors and other stakeholders and we will sell the remaining 2,000 tickets. We have received more than double the applications from fans," said Bransgrove. "It's a very interesting game and there is good demand for it."
Hampshire has also been asked to hand over all of its corporate boxes to the Rose Bowl, but Bransgrove hopes they will. "Given the travel restrictions and quarantine protocols, I am not sure how many members of the ICC and the Cricket Control Board will come to matches in India. We would be happy to sell these tickets too," said the veteran administrator.
Bransgrove said Southampton were waiting for the Indian players and their families to arrive in the port city where Titanic sailed in April 1912. "We expect the Indian team to complete their quarantine in India and arrive here. We are ready to receive them." ", he noticed.
Meanwhile, the ICC announced that the playing conditions for the WTC finals would be announced in a few days.
