The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly included two Indians in the star-studded commentary panel for the high-profile ICC World Test Championship final. India and New Zealand will lock horns in the pinnacle clash at the Rose Bowl in Southampton starting June 18.
A report in Cricbuzz claims that many commentators from India and New Zealand have refused to commentate on the WTC final. The stringent protocols, which mandate a 10-day quarantine for all overseas professionals for a 5-day stint, have apparently dissuaded them from the opportunity.
Two Indians included in ICC’s WTC final commentary panel
Indian wicket-keeper batter and former skipper Sunil Gavaskar are the only Indians, who have reportedly agreed to join the on-ground panel for the summit clash. They will be accompanied by New Zealand’s Simon Doull and two neutral commentators in England’s Mike Atherton and Nasser Hussain.
Other names, including Ian Smith, who famously held forth in the 2019 World Cup Final, are also in talks, albeit without any confirmation.
According to Cricbuzz – ICC likely to pick Nasser Hussian, Mike Atherton as neutral commentators then Dinesh Karthik, Sunil Gavaskar from India and Simon Doull from New Zealand for the WTC final. #INDvNZ
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 24, 2021
Dinesh Karthik’s availability as a commentator for the World Test Championship final might also mean that he will not play a part in the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. The tour, which will run parallel to Virat Kohli’s boys’ trip to England, will see the participation of most of India’s fringe players and white-ball specialists. Karthik was last seen in action in the IPL 2021, where he scored 123 runs across 7 innings at an average of 30.75.
While the New Zealand side has already landed in the UK, the Indian contingent is scheduled to leave for the UK on June 2. The Kiwis will play a two-match series against England followed by the World Test Championship final while India will begin their tour with the World Test Championship final followed by the five-match Test series against England.
