BCCI CEO Sourav Ganguly has confirmed that the ICC World Test Championship final has been moved from Lord’s to Southampton.

The former skipper told India Today that the Covid-19 pandemic forced the ECB to move the clash to the Ageas Bowl, where England played most of their cricket in a bio-bubble last year.

The south-coast venue has an on-site hotel and training facility on the premises, making it safer for players and staff to move around without any public contact.

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‘It [the WTC final] is in Southampton. It has been decided a long time ago. They have the hotel, which makes it easier for them to control [the bio-secure environment]. That’s why when England started cricket after Covid times, a lot of Test matches were held in Southampton and Manchester because they have hotels alongside the ground,’ Ganguly said.

India are due to meet New Zealand from 18-22 June after both teams recently secured their spot in the final.

England opted for the Ageas Bowl and Old Trafford in Manchester as their venues for all of their Test and limited-overs series last year.

They managed to successfully welcome teams from Pakistan, West Indies, Australia and Ireland during that period and are gearing up for another busy summer.