‘That’s not good for fans, ICC, wake up, please’ – Brad Hogg on WTC Final being scheduled after IPL 2023

Brad Hogg. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)

Following the end of the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India and Australia will next take each other on at the World Test Championship final, which is scheduled to begin on June 7. However, fans will have to wait to see the much-awaited summit clash as the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) will be conducted in this time frame, as the competition is scheduled from March 31 to May 28.

India booked their spot in the WTC final after a thrilling contest between New Zealand and Sri Lanka. The Lankans were also one of the contenders for a spot in the WTC final but their hopes were crushed after a marvelous ton by Kane Williamson, who led the Black Caps to a fabulous victory.

Sri Lanka needed to win both Tests against New Zealand to make it to the WTC final, but their loss meant that India had instead qualified and will face Australia.

The final is scheduled to take place from June 7 at The Oval in London. The packed schedule leaves very little time for players who will have to travel quickly after the IPL and join the team’s camp in England.

Former Australian spinner Brad Hogg recently came forward to talk about his disappointment over fans having to wait over three months to watch the WTC final. He also opined that the fans will be saturated after watching the IPL, and all excitement for the WTC final will get dim by then.

ICC, wake up, please: Hogg

Brad Hogg talked about the IPL and WPL schedules in a video on his YouTube channel. While questioning the scheduling, he also asked why the fans would be excited for the game after watching over 70 matches of the IPL.

“What are the ICC doing? The main games have all finished, and now we have got to wait for three months for the WTC Final. That is not good for the fans out there. ICC, wake up, please,” Brad Hogg said on his YouTube channel.

“All of the momentum, the excitement by then will have dissipated. By the time the WTC Final comes along after the IPL, everyone has had enough of cricket, and they probably would not be interested in the final,” he added.