The final match of the ICC World Test Championship 2021–2023 is likely to be held on March 31. The venue for the second edition of the final is yet to be confirmed, but the ICC wants to host the match at the iconic Lord’s cricket ground in London. The top two teams in the points table will advance to the final. With less than a year left before the WTC championship match takes place, all the big teams are pushing hard to finish in the top two in the points standings. Let’s take a look at the favourites to reach the final, the current standings and the remaining fixtures of the ongoing Test Championship. 2021-2023 ICC World Test Championship: Points Table Scenario  The ICC has twelve full members but not all the teams are taking part in the ICC World Test Championship 2021–2023. Nine teams are playing in the second edition of the championship. The teams that are participating in the Test Championship are: Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and West Indies. As per the latest standings, Australia are leading the points table with 77.78 PCT, while Bangladesh are at the bottom of the standings with 13.33 PCT. Read Root and Bairstow rocket England to record Test win ICC World Test Championship (2021-2023) Points Standings (Updated: July 5, 2022) Team Matches Won Lost Draw Points PCT Australia 9 6 0 3 84 77.78 South Africa 7 5 2 0 60 71.43 Pakistan 7 3 2 2 44 52.38 India 12 6 4 2 75 52.08 West Indies 9 4 3 2 54 50.00 Sri Lanka 7 3 3 1 40 47.62 England 16 5 7 4 64 33.33 New Zealand 9 2 6 1 28 25.93 Bangladesh 10 1 8 1 16 13.33    Source: https://www.icc-cricket.com/world-test-championship/standings Read WI vs BAN Series 2022: 7 attainable personal milestones for Bangladeshi cricketers 2021-2023 ICC WTC: Remaining Fixtures 69 matches are scheduled to be played in 27 series over the two-year period. Each team will take part in six series, three at home and three away. Each series will contain two to five matches, and all the participating teams will play 12 to 22 Test matches. England are scheduled to play the most with 22 matches in the second edition of the competition. 12 points for a win, 6 points for a tie, and 4 points for a draw are allocated for the Championship. Therefore, 24 points are available for 2-match series, 36 points for 3-match series, 48 points for 4-match series, and 60 points for 5-match series. Let’s take a look at the remaining fixtures of all nine participating teams. Australia The current leader of the WTC 2021–2023 points table, Australia, have three series left. They don’t have any series against Bangladesh and New Zealand. Remaining series (3): West Indies (November-December, 2022 / home), South Africa (December 2022-January 2023 / home), and India (February-March, 2023 / away). Read ENG vs IND 5th Test 2022: England on verge of record run chase South Africa The Proteas team has played three WTC series so far, and they will play three more in the current edition of the tournament. They don’t have any series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Remaining series (3): England (August-September, 2022 / away), Australia (December 2022-January 2023 / away), and West Indies (TBD / home) Pakistan Pakistan have three series remaining in the ongoing World Test Championship. They don’t have any series against India and South Africa in this edition of the competition. Remaining series (3): Sri Lanka (July, 2022 / away), England (November-December, 2022 / home), and New Zealand (December, 2022 / home). Read WI vs BAN ODI Series 2022: H2H Comparison, Fixtures, Venues India The Indian Test team will play two more series in the 2021–2023 WTC. They have no scheduled series against Pakistan and the West Indies in the current championship. Remaining series (2): Bangladesh (November, 2022 / away), and Australia India (February-March, 2023 / home) West Indies The Caribbean Test team has already played four Test series, so they have two more series in this Test Championship. They will not play any WTC series against India and New Zealand. Remaining series (2): Australia (November-December, 2022 / away), and South Africa (TBD / away). Read Bangladesh’s T20I Fixtures Before the ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2022 Sri Lanka The Lankan Test team has two more series left in the ongoing WTC. They have no scheduled Test series against England and South Africa. Remaining series (2): Pakistan (July, 2022 / home), and New Zealand (March, 2023/ away). England England will play two more series in the competition as they have already competed in four series. The English Test side has no scheduled Test series against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Remaining series (2): South Africa (August-September, 2022 / home), and Pakistan (November-December, 2022/ away). Read BAN vs WI T20I Series 2022: 5 Bangladeshi players to watch out New Zealand The Kiwi Test team has two more series in the WTC 2021–2023. They will not play any series against Australia and the West Indies. Remaining series (2): Pakistan (December, 2022 / away), and Sri Lanka (March, 2023 / home) Bangladesh Bangladesh have completed the highest number of series among the participating teams. They have already played five series and have one series left against India. Bangladesh have no series against Australia and England in the 2021–2023 Test Championship. Remaining series (1): India (November, 2022 / home). Read ENG vs IND 2022: England, India gear up for fifth Test ICC WTC 2021-2023: Favourites to Reach the Final The ICC made some changes to the rules and one of the major changes is that the PCT (percentage) determines the position of the 2021–2023 World Test Championship points table. As a result, teams with higher PCT rank higher in the points standings. Let’s take a look at all the teams' current scenarios in their quest for the Test Championship final. Australia Australia are currently leading the standings with 6 victories and 3 draws. They are the only team that has remained unbeaten in the tournament. With 10 matches in hand, Australia are in a strong position to finish top of the points table and secure a place in the final. Verdict: Top 2 South Africa The ICC Test Championship 2021–2023 is going well for South Africa, who are now placed second with 71.43 PCT. The Proteas team still has to play two challenging series against England and Australia. In these two series, they will compete in six games that will determine whether they advance to the final or not. Verdict: Top 5 Read BAN vs WI 2022: Bangladesh aim for strong comeback in T20I series Pakistan Pakistan are in the third position with 52.38 PCT. Pakistan have a genuine chance to reach the final as there are 7 matches still left for them. Four of those matches will be against New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Both the New Zealand and Sri Lanka series will not be a big threat to the Pakistan side. However, the series against England will be a tough challenge for them. Verdict: Top 4 India India’s current position is fourth with 52.08 PCT. Team India will be favourite to beat Bangladesh in both of the matches. However, the four matches against Australia at home will decide whether they can reach the final for the second time. Verdict: Top 4   Read Twenty20 World Cup 2022: 5 issues Bangladesh team should address West Indies The Caribbean team’s remaining two series would be against Australia and South Africa. Both the opponents will target the West Indies to increase their respective PCT. Therefore, the West Indies will have a tough time during the two series. The West Indies are in fifth position, and they will try to finish in the top five in the final point standings. Verdict: Top 7 Sri Lanka The Lankan Test side has three victories so far in the tournament and they have currently occupied the sixth position in the points table. Sri Lanka have no realistic chance of finishing in the top two even if they win the series against New Zealand and Pakistan. They will try to finish as high as possible in the points table. Verdict: Top 7 Read WI vs BAN: Rain-hit T20I series opener washes away England Two months ago, England's Test team looked shambolic and they were at the bottom of the points standings. However, they have made a brilliant comeback after Ben Stokes was appointed as captain. England have now won four consecutive Tests and moved up to the seventh position. With only six matches left, England have no chance to qualify for the final. Verdict: Top 7 New Zealand The reigning champions, New Zealand, are having a difficult time in the ongoing 2021–2023 Test Championship. They have only won two of nine matches so far in the tournament. The Kiwi Test side will likely finish in the bottom half of the points table in the second edition of the competition. Verdict: 8th position Read ENG vs IND 2022: Bumrah breaks record as India dominate 5th Test Bangladesh Bangladesh’s only victory in the WTC has come against New Zealand earlier in January 2022. Apart from that, Bangladesh have lost eight matches and they will likely taste the same results against India in November. Therefore, the Bangladeshi team's ICC Test Championship 2021–2023 campaign is expected to be another lackluster event. Verdict: 9th position Way Forward Australia's qualification for the final appears to be fairly guaranteed based on the current standings. The reigning champions, New Zealand’s chance to secure a place in the ICC World Test Championship 2021–2023 final is all but over. So, they won’t be able to defend their title. First edition runner-up India are still in the race for the championship match, but they will face staunch competition from Pakistan and South Africa. The majority of the remaining teams have no chance to qualify for the final, with Bangladesh finishing bottom in the points standings, which is all but assured. Read BAN vs WI T20I Series 2022: Shakib Al Hasan Reaches Historic Landmark

The Sri Lanka national cricket team is all set to arrive in Dhaka on Sunday morning to take part in a two-match Test series against Bangladesh starting from May 15 in Chattogram.  This series is a part of the ongoing cycle of the ICC World Test Championship. Bangladesh played five Tests in this event so far and managed to win only one against New Zealand earlier this year. In their last series against South Africa recently, Bangladesh lost both matches.  Bangladesh has already announced the squad for this series including Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal. Bangladesh, however, will miss the service of Taskin Ahmed as the pacer has been suffering from an injury that he has sustained during the South Africa series.  Also Read: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Test Series 2022: Squad comparison Sri Lanka, who are currently at the fifth place in the Test Championship standings, has also announced an 18-member squad with Dimuth Karunaratne being the captain.  While the first Test is slated to be played in Chattogram from May 15, the second and final Test of the series will be played in Dhaka from May 23.  Bangladesh previously played 22 Test matches against the island nation and won only one of them while four ended up in draws.  Bangladesh squad: Mominul Haque (Captain), Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das, Yasir Ali, Taijul Islam, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Ebadot Hossain, Khaled Ahmed, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Shohidul Islam, Shoriful Islam (subject to fitness).  Sri Lanka squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), Kamil Mishara, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya De Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Suminda Lakshan, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lasith Embuldeniya Also Read: BCB announces 14-member squad for two-day practice match vs Sri Lanka        

After waiting for about one and a half weeks, the Bangladesh team is finally out for preparation ahead of the two-match Test series against New Zealand starting from January 1.  In the latest Covid-19 Test, all the members of the Bangladesh team returned negative which allowed them to come out from the quarantine and start preparation ahead of the series.  Read:New Zealand vs Bangladesh: Head-to-Head Record, Stats in Test Cricket This series is part of the ICC World Test Championship. Bangladesh played their first series of this event against Pakistan at home before flying for New Zealand. Bangladesh lost both the matches they played against Pakistan at home.   Bangladesh team left Dhaka on December 9 for New Zealand, and since then, they had been maintaining a strict quarantine. In the first Covid-19 test after arriving there, all the players and support staff returned negative. But in the second test, Bangladesh’s spin bowling coach Rangana Herath returned positive which prevented the Tigers to take the field after completing three days of in-room quarantine.   “It’s Great to be out,” Russell Domingo, Bangladesh’s head coach, said. “Eleven days in our rooms been pretty challenging for the boys after a long year. So, boys are happy to be out in bright sunshine and blue sky.”  Bangladesh team will continue to be practising for two days to get themselves accustomed to batting and bowling once again, and by the time they will get to Tauranga for a six-day preparation camp before the first Test of the series. The strict quarantine measures had cast doubts over the fate of this series. Had not everybody of the Bangladesh team returned negative in the last Covid-19 test, the period of quarantine might have been extended more which could force both the boards to reschedule the series in a later date.  After the New Zealand series, Bangladesh players will need to maintain another quarantine period when they will play the new season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) which is yet to be scheduled. And after that, Afghanistan will visit Bangladesh, and the players will have to maintain another tight bio-secured environment.   Bangladesh have been suffering in the field for a while now. They won two T20I series against Australia and New Zealand ahead of the T20 World Cup. But in the World Cup, they failed in every way—which was started with the defeat against Scotland.   Read: Akram Khan set to resign from his BCB post, reveals family After the shocking defeat in the first match, Bangladesh won against Oman and Papua New Guinea and qualified to the next phase of the event which was full of disappointment for the Tigers where they failed to win any match.   After the World Cup, Bangladesh lost two consecutive Tests against Pakistan. Now, they are taking the challenge of New Zealand at their home ground. Before this series, Bangladesh played 15 Tests against New Zealand and failed to win any of them.  In this tough series, Bangladesh are set to miss the service of Shakib Al Hasan who is currently on leave due to family commitments. The allrounder has great records against the Blackcaps. Along with him, Bangladesh’s most successful opener, Tamim Iqbal, is also out of this series. The opener is currently going through a rehabilitation program to come out from injuries that prevented him to take part in the Pakistan series.

Ahead of Dhaka Test, both Bangladesh and Pakistan teams have returned to Dhaka from Chattogram after playing the first Test of the two-match series.  Both teams will start preparing for the second Test on Thursday.  The Dhaka Test will kick off on December 4 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Pakistan are leading the series 1-0 with the big win by eight wickets in Chattogram.  In most parts of the Chattogram Test, Bangladesh were in the driving seat. But consistent good show by Pakistan pacers and top-order have helped the tourists to better the hosts.  Abid Ali hit a century and a 91 to guide Pakistan to make a flying start to the ICC World Test Championship. Along with him, Shaheen Afridi and Hassan Ali contributed well with the ball.  For Bangladesh, Liton Das smashed his maiden ton, and Mushfiqur Rahim posted 91. And with the ball, Taijul Islam was imperious taking seven wickets— his second-best bowling figure in the format.  Ahead of the second Test, Bangladesh called back Shakib Al Hasan and Taskin Ahmed to the squad. Both had been suffering from injuries and missed the first Test for the same.  However, right-handed opener Saif Hassan has been ruled out due to fever. And, Bangladesh called left-handed opener Mohammad Naim to the Test squad for the first time.  Bangladesh squad for 2nd Pakistan Test: Mominul Haque (Captain), Shadman Islam, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Liton Das, Yasir Ali, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Abu Jayed Rahi, Nayeem Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Khaled Ahmed, Shohidul Islam, and Mohammad Naim

Pakistan has recalled allrounder Faheem Ashraf and offspinner Bilal Asif for next week's ICC World Test Championship match against Bangladesh at Rawalpindi.