Playing conditions awaited

ICC to update Team India shortly about the much-awaited WTC Final

What happens if next month's World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand ends in a draw? Or a tie? Or worse, a washout? The Indian cricket team is eagerly awaiting a response to this and other questions concerning the Playing Conditions for the marquee clash in Southampton from June 18 to 22.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is expected to release the Playing Conditions in the coming days.

"Since this is not another bilateral series Test match, we need to know about the playing conditions. There are three basic pointers that we need to know," according to a senior BCCI official.

"What happens in case of a draw, tie or an eventual wash-out without at least one innings of both teams not being completed," he added.

"The ICC will be publishing the Playing Conditions in coming days. We can't put a date but I believe they will send it soon."

Meanwhile, the Indian team, after reaching London, early next month is expected to leave immediately for Southampton where it will be in quarantine during the England versus New Zealand Test match at the Ageas Bowl.

"Yes, India will be in Southampton only when

New Zealand and England play the first of their two Tests. We expect ICC to give an idea of the duration of hard or soft quarantine in the next few days.

"Since it's an ICC event, the final notification needs to come from them," the source said.

The Indian team is hoping to train during its soft quarantine but negotiations are still on with regards to duration of quarantine.

While the likes of Mayank Agarwal, Ravichandran Ashwin, bowling coach Bharat Arun on Wednesday arrived in Mumbai on a charter flight from Chennai, Mohammed Siraj, men's team fielding coach R Sridhar, women's Test and ODI captain Mithali Raj will all be boarding from Hyderabad.

BCCI has deployed three charter flights, from Delhi, Hyderabad and Chennai, for both male and female cricketers.

Bharat roped in New Delhi: Wicketkeeperbatsman KS Bharat will be travelling to the UK with the India men's squad. The wicket-keeper is cover for Wriddhiman Saha who has just recovered from Covid19. Although Saha has recovered in time to enter the bio-bubble in Mumbai before leaving for the UK on June 2, the selection committee did not take any chances and they decided to add Bharat to the group with an eye on the COVID19 protocols and guidelines.

— What happens in case of a draw, tie or an eventual wash-out without at least one innings of both teams not being completed. —BCCI OFFICIAL