London, Aug 09 (V7N) – The race for the World Test Championship (WTC) final is heating up, with Australia leading the points table and Bangladesh still in contention for a place in the title decider.

According to the schedule announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC), the WTC final for the current cycle is scheduled to begin on June 9, 2027, at The Oval in London. With 15 series still remaining in the cycle, several teams remain in the race for the final.

Australia currently sit at the top after winning seven of their eight matches. However, the defending contenders still face challenging assignments against teams including India and South Africa.

South Africa are second in the standings and have 10 matches remaining. With eight of those matches scheduled at home, the Proteas have a strong opportunity to strengthen their position.

New Zealand are third and also remain well placed. However, their upcoming four-match series in Australia could prove decisive in determining their final prospects.

Bangladesh are currently fourth and still have a realistic chance of reaching the final. The Tigers have eight Tests remaining, and strong results in those matches could significantly improve their points percentage.

A combination of four home wins and at least one away victory would put Bangladesh around the 60 percent mark, while draws could also play an important role in the final qualification equation.

India, meanwhile, face a difficult road ahead. Sitting fifth with a points percentage of around 48 percent, India need to win the vast majority of their remaining nine Tests, including matches against Australia, to keep their final hopes alive.

Sri Lanka and Pakistan are also facing an uphill battle and will need a significant improvement in results to challenge for a place in the final.

For England and the West Indies, the possibility of reaching the WTC final has effectively ended, while Pakistan's position also leaves them with little room for error.

South Africa are the reigning WTC champions after defeating Australia in the previous final. With the current cycle entering its decisive phase, the remaining Test series are set to determine which two teams will meet at The Oval in June 2027.

END/SMA/AJ