India will be taking on New Zealand in the World Test Championship final at Southampton in June. While a lot of cricket matches have been played behind closed doors due to COVID-19 pandemic, Hampshire County Club head Rod Bransgrove has said that 4000 spectators will be allowed to watch the Test match.

The COVID-19 situation has improved in the UK and about 1500 spectators were allowed to watch the county game between Leicestershire and Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl, which will be hosting the WTC final from June 18.

“We’re staging a four-day county game from today and for the first time since September 2019 fans were allowed for a cricket match in England. The other county games of this round will begin tomorrow and those games too will see crowds,” Bransgrove told Cricbuzz on Wednesday.

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50 percent of the allowed tickets will be given to the ICC sponsors and other stake holders while the other half of the tickets will be sold to the fans.

“I understand 50 percent of the permitted crowds will be taken by the ICC for its sponsors and other stake holders and we will be selling the rest 2000 tickets. We have already received more than double applications from the fans,” the Hampshire County Club head said.

“It is a high-interest game and there is a good demand for it. We are waiting for the Indian team to complete their quarantine in India and arrive here. We are ready to host them,” he added.

The UK-bound Indian team will be going under quarantine in Mumbai for two-weeks and will be leaving for England on June 2.

(With PTI inputs)