By: Muhammad Faheem Anwar
ISLAMABAD: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed a massive increase in prize money for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) as the champion will secure a prize money of USD 3.6 million, more than double of the winners in the last two cycles. The final is to be played between South Africa and Australia at Lord’s next month.
“The increase in prize money exhibits the ICC’s efforts to prioritize Test cricket as it looks to build on the momentum of the first three cycles of the nine-team competition,” the ICC said in its release.
The runner-up of the WTC final will bag more than USD 2.1 million, while the prize for the same in the previous editions was USD 800,000. India, who finished third on the table, will receive over USD 1.4 million, while fourth-placed New Zealand get USD 1.2 million. Even the prize money for teams finishing fifth (USD 96000) and sixth (USD 840000) — England and Sri Lanka — is more than what it was for the runners-up in the previous editions. Pakistan finishing bottom of the World Test Championship rankings will walk away with USD $480,000
South Africa topped the table in the 2023-25 edition with eight wins from 12 games, and were the first team to seal a final spot with a dramatic two-wicket win over Pakistan. Defending champions Australia got through by pipping India to the second spot after winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1 at home.
Both teams have named their squads for the final. The focus for South Africa will be on their pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada after his one-month ban for failing a drug test, while Cameron Green makes his return to Australia’s Test side after undergoing a lower spine surgery last year.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah, in a statement, said the WTC has brought renewed interest and competitiveness to Test cricket. “We have witnessed a very interesting third cycle of the ICC World Test Championship, where the finalists were decided only towards the end of the competition. This final is a true celebration of cricket,” he remarked.
South African captain Temba Bavuma expressed his team’s eagerness to claim their first-ever ICC title. “The World Test Championship lends context to this vital format of the game, and Lord’s is a fitting venue for such a mega fixture,” he said.
Australian captain Pat Cummins said his side was proud to defend the title. “It’s a great honour for all of us to be in the final again. We look forward to the challenge South Africa will present at the home of cricket,” he stated.
