ISLAMABAD: With less than a year left for the World Test Championship final, six teams remain in contention as Australia lead the pack while England, Pakistan, and West Indies are officially eliminated from the race.
Test cricket will dominate the international cricket calendar over the next few months, with 15 out of 27 series yet to be played in the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle. With less than a year remaining before the final at The Oval, the longest format is set to provide high-stakes entertainment for cricket fans worldwide.
Here is how the qualification scenarios look for every team in the WTC 2025–27 Cycle to reach the final🏏
🇦🇺 Australia: 8 Wins required in 14 matches
🇿🇦 South Africa: 6 Wins required in 10 matches
🇳🇿 New Zealand: 7 Wins required in 10 matches
🇧🇩 Bangladesh: 6 Wins required in… pic.twitter.com/ar3MKKQJl2— CricInformer (@CricInformer) August 10, 2026
Six teams remain in contention for the two spots in next year’s showpiece event. Australia currently lead the standings with an impressive 87.5 percentage points, having lost only one of their eight Tests played so far. South Africa occupy second place with 75 PCT, followed closely by New Zealand at 72.22.
Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka complete the list of contenders, while England, Pakistan, and West Indies are officially out of the race.
Australia’s opening pair ready to set the tone as #WTC27 campaign resumes 👊https://t.co/yCrvmoc6xL
— ICC (@ICC) August 10, 2026
Australia’s path to the final
Australia has the most demanding schedule ahead, with 14 Tests remaining in this cycle. Their remaining fixtures include two home Tests against Bangladesh, three away Tests in South Africa, four home Tests against New Zealand, and five away Tests against India.
The defending WTC champions need at least 75 more points to secure a PCT of 60, which translates to six wins and a draw. However, the challenge lies in their away assignments. Australia have lost their last three Tests in South Africa and have managed only two victories in their last 15 Tests in India.
While they are expected to dominate at home, winning in South Africa and India will be crucial to their final aspirations. A PCT of 60 may prove sufficient, but the road ahead is fraught with difficulty.
How the #WTC27 is shaping up after Pakistan’s victory over the West Indies 🤔
More ➡️ https://t.co/gW4kJw6IvO pic.twitter.com/nO2wOYb24Q
— ICC (@ICC) August 6, 2026
South Africa’s challenging road
South Africa have enjoyed a strong start to the cycle, drawing 1-1 in Pakistan and routing India 2-0 on Indian soil. Their remaining schedule includes three home Tests against Australia, two home Tests against Bangladesh, three home Tests against England, and two away Tests in Sri Lanka.
The defending WTC champions require at least 65 more points to reach a PCT of 60. Six wins out of their remaining 10 Tests would take them to 64.28, but five wins and a draw at 59.52 might not be enough.
While South Africa are expected to dominate Bangladesh at home, their series against Australia and England will ultimately decide their fate. The England series is at home, but the two Tests in Sri Lanka could prove decisive if the race goes down to the wire.
WTC FINAL QUALIFICATION SCENARIOS!
Here’s what each team needs to do from here to qualify for the WTC 2025–27 Final 👀
Australia, South Africa and New Zealand are the clear favourites, while 🇮🇳 India still have an outside chance of making the Final.#WTCFinal #INDvsSL pic.twitter.com/dokWqtPidK
— CRICKETNMORE (@cricketnmore) August 10, 2026
New Zealand’s uphill battle
The inaugural WTC champions have won four of their last five Tests, including a come-from-behind series victory in England. They currently sit in third place with 72.22 PCT, but their remaining schedule is among the toughest.
New Zealand face two home Tests against India, four away Tests in Australia, two home Tests against Sri Lanka, and two away Tests in Pakistan.
New Zealand need at least 63 more points, equivalent to five wins and a draw, to secure a PCT of 60. Six wins would take them to 64.58. However, their record in Australia is poor, having won only three of 34 Tests in the country, with their last victory dating back to December 2011.
Even if they win all four home Tests against India and Sri Lanka, New Zealand must find a way to overcome Australia away to keep their final hopes alive.
Read Also: England to Host Next Three World Test Championship Finals
Bangladesh’s tough test ahead
Bangladesh enter the remainder of the cycle with momentum after beating Pakistan 2-0 at home. Their remaining fixtures include two away Tests in Australia, two home Tests against West Indies, two away Tests in South Africa, and two home Tests against England.
The Tigers need at least 59 more points to go beyond 60 PCT. This requires five wins from their remaining eight Tests. Four wins and two draws would leave them at 58.33, which may not be sufficient. Bangladesh face daunting away assignments in Australia and South Africa, while England’s tour of Bangladesh will be their first since 2016. The side will need to play out of their skins to upset stronger opponents, but their strong start gives them a fighting chance.
India’s narrow margin for error
India currently find themselves in a precarious position with 48.15 PCT. Their remaining schedule comprises two away Tests in Sri Lanka, two away Tests in New Zealand, and five home Tests against Australia. With nine Tests left, the margin for error is extremely slim.
🚨 India WTC Final race is heating up! 🔥
– 9 Tests left India need a strong finish from here.
– 78 more points could take them around the 60% PCT mark.
– 9 wins → ~74% PCT, putting qualification almost within reach.
– 8 wins + 1 loss → ~68.5% PCT, a very strong position.… pic.twitter.com/IMLzSnwCi7
— Talha Nawaz (@TalhaDigital007) August 11, 2026
India must win at least seven of their remaining nine Tests to surpass the 60 PCT mark. While they have lost only two of their last 15 home Tests against Australia, their recent home form has been concerning, having been blanked out by New Zealand (0-3) and South Africa (0-2) in recent series.
Even if they overcome Sri Lanka in the upcoming two-match series, a tougher challenge awaits in New Zealand, where India last won a Test back in 2009. Shubman Gill and his men face an uphill task as the race to make the WTC final intensifies.
Read Also: World Test Championship Table Gets a Major Shake-Up as Bangladesh Stun Pakistan in First Test
Sri Lanka’s must-win scenario
Sri Lanka have four series remaining in this cycle, including four home Tests against India and South Africa, two away Tests in Pakistan, and two away Tests in New Zealand. They currently sit at 41.67 PCT and need a strong finish to remain in contention.
Sri Lanka need at least five wins and two draws, or six wins, from their remaining eight Tests to put themselves in a strong position to seal a spot in the 2027 WTC final
Currently ranked sixth, they now face fifth-placed India in a crucial two-Test home series
Can the hosts… pic.twitter.com/UiDGmzthox
— Cricinfo (@cricinfo) August 10, 2026
To end up with a PCT of more than 60, Sri Lanka require at least 67 more points, which converts to five wins and two draws (61.11). Six wins would take them to 63.88, but five wins and a draw would keep them at 58.33, which may not be enough.
Any setbacks against India, Pakistan, or New Zealand could seal their fate before South Africa even arrive. The home series against India and South Africa will be crucial, but Sri Lanka must also find a way to win away from home to keep their final hopes alive.
The race for the World Test Championship final at The Oval promises to deliver thrilling cricket over the coming months, with every Test carrying immense significance for the six contending teams.
