As the World Test Championship Final is approaching, the International Cricket Council has its task cut out to find commentators for the showpiece event. However, the two teams involved in the match, New Zealand and India might not be able to get commentators from their own nation for the prestigious occasion, as they are not willing to undergo 10 days of quarantine for five days of commentating.
“Quite a few commentators from India and New Zealand have said no to ICC and Sunset+Vine, the company that produces global cricket events, as on-ground commentary duties in the World Test Championship final would mean a 10-day quarantine for a five-day stint at best,” Cricbuzz reported.
Two Indian and one New Zealander though have confirmed their presence even as ICC awaits confirmation from the most dramatic voice from the 2019 World Cup Final. “Sunil Gavaskar and Dinesh Karthik are understood to be the only two Indians on the panel that will also feature New Zealand's Simon Doull. There is no confirmation if Ian Smith, whose commentary was one of the highlights of the 2019 World Cup, will join too,” the report said.
To overcome the lack of commentators, the ICC is expected to rope in England’s Mike Atherton and Nasser Hussain as neutral voices for the game. The WTC final would begin on June 18 at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.