Sourav Ganguly, Jay Shah not to attend the World Test Championship final

The build-up to the ICC World Test Championship final (WTC) has reached the peak with fans, experts, and former cricketers making their predictions and choosing their favorite team among India and New Zealand. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials have also granted permission to players to bring their families for the summit clash.

The BCCI have also given permission to its women players who are set to leave with the men’s team on June 2nd to get their families as well, considering the players will be in a strict bio-bubble for close to three months and they might be worried about the families.

However, it is learned that none of the BCCI office-bearers, including president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah, will be in attendance during the WTC final, which is set to begin on June 18 in Southampton.

“Yes, it’s good news that players will have their families during the tour of UK. Ditto for the women’s team who can also have their families around. These are times when mental well-being of players is paramount.

“The BCCI understands that we need our players and support staff to be in a good head space,” the source told PTI.

Indian Men and Women’s team all set for the England tour

Ganguly and Shah were originally supposed to be present for the final but pulled out last minute due to England Cricket Board (ECB) officials’ strict quarantine rules.

“As far as I know, the ECB didn’t grant permission to them (Ganguly and Shah). Normally, administrators go before the Test match but as per quarantine rules, since they are not playing members, they would have had to undergo hard quarantine of 10 days,” an ECB official said.

“The team rules wouldn’t have been applicable as far as president and secretary is concerned,” the official added.

The Indian men’s and women’s teams are set to depart from Mumbai to Southampton on June 3rd and will be again undergoing a mandatory 10-day quarantine. The women’s team will kick off their all-format tour by playing a Test at Bristol starting June 16. While the men’s team will start the tour finale on June 18.