New Delhi: Bangladeshs cricket team is currently experiencing its best performance in the history of the World Test Championship (WTC). With their recent series win, Bangladesh has secured its third Test victory in this WTC cycle. Considering they had only managed to win one Test across 19 matches in the first two editions combined, this victory is Bangladeshs peak in recent years. The impressive run has propelled them from just above the bottom-dwelling West Indies to a remarkable fourth place in the standings, narrowly edging out England.Bangladesh climbs up in WTC tableThis victory has not only boosted Bangladeshs position but also intensified the competition for the final spots in the WTC final. With upcoming tours to India and the Caribbean, followed by a home series against South Africa, Bangladesh has a challenging road ahead. Each of these tours involves two Tests, and the outcome of these matches will be crucial in determining Bangladeshs fate in the WTC race.Bangladesh shot up to fourth in the #WTC25 standings after their series win over Pakistan 😯👏Standings 📝: https://t.co/BcdeGlTz8E#WTC25 | #PAKvBAN pic.twitter.com/lEhld8YJIS— ICC (@ICC) September 3, 2024Pakistan slides down to eighthOn the flip side, Pakistans WTC campaign has taken a severe hit. With five consecutive Test losses, Pakistan has plummeted to eighth place. Their chances of qualifying for the WTC final are now slim to none. To reach the 58.2% threshold— the percentage points (PCT) that secured India a spot in the last WTC final—Pakistan would need to win all of their remaining seven Tests. This includes a challenging tour to South Africa, where they are currently on a seven-Test losing streak, and home series against England and West Indies.For Bangladesh to have a realistic shot at the WTC final, they would need to secure 52 more points from their remaining six Tests. This could be achieved with a combination of four wins and a draw. However, the path to the final is fraught with challenges, especially since neither Bangladesh nor Pakistan will face Australia or New Zealand—teams currently occupying second and third place in the points table. Both teams will be hoping for these trans-Tasman rivals to drop points to keep their own hopes alive.WTC final to be played at LordsThe International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that the final of the World Test Championship will be held at Lords, London, from June 11 to June 15, with a reserve day on June 16 if needed. This prestigious match will mark the third edition of the WTC final to be held in England. The first final, in 2021, saw New Zealand triumph over India in Southampton, while the second final, in 2023, witnessed Australias victory over India at The Oval, London.
