WTC Final: ICC announces prize money for winners

The ICC has announced that the winner of the World Test Championship (WTC) final will receive USD 1.6 million (i.e. around Rs 12 crore) as well as the Test Championship mace. While the losing team will get 800,000 US dollars (about Rs 6 crore). If the match is a draw, the total prize money of USD 2.4 million will be split between the two teams in such a situation, India-New Zealand teams will get prize money of about Rs 8.78 crore. India and New Zealand will lock their horns in the mega final at Southampton from June 18-22.

This will be the first time that this format of the game will have official world champions. ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice, while interacting with media, said that it (WTC) has become a symbol of the best team in Test cricket and with the Test Championship now being used to identify the best team in Test cricket.

The ICC said in a statement that the Test mace, which was previously given to the top teams in the Test team rankings every year, will henceforth be given to the WTC winners. In the event of a draw or a tie, both teams will share possession of the Test Championship mace while India and New Zealand remain champions.

According to Cricinfo, Australia, who finished third in the points table, will be given prize money of Rs. 3.3 crore. While the remaining teams that were part of the competition – West Indies, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh each will get Rs 73-73 lakh.