Sky Signs Agreement to Retain Cricket Rights until 2031
Sky Sports has announced a new long-term deal with the International Cricket Council (ICC). The agreement gives the broadcaster continuing rights to show the biggest events in international cricket for years to come.
The Sky Sports presentation team is on duty at Lords Cricket Ground. ©GettyImages
Beginning in 2024, the partnership will see Sky and Sky NOW retain the ICC Broadcast and Digital rights to show all men’s and women’s events at the pinnacle of the sport. The roster includes the ICC Cricket World Cups and ICC T20 World Cups until the end of 2031.
Busy and Testing Times Ahead
During the partnership, there will be a major international men’s and women’s event every year. There will also be a World Test Championship final every two years. From 2024, the new deal will see 28 international events played between 2024 and 2031 televised, including:
Men’s Events
- ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 (West Indies & USA)
- ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 (Pakistan)
- ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 (England)
- ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 (India & Sri Lanka)
- ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 (South Africa, Zimbabwe & Namibia)
- ICC World Test Championship Final 2027 (Host TBC)
- ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028 (Australia & New Zealand)
- ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2029 (India)
- ICC World Test Championship Final 2029 (Host TBC)
- ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2030 (England, Ireland & Scotland)
- ICC World Test Championship Final 2031 (Host TBC)
- ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2031 (India & Bangladesh)
Women’s Events
- ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 (Bangladesh)
- ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 (India)
- ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 (England)
- ICC Women’s T20 Champions Trophy 2027 (Sri Lanka)
- ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2028 (Hosts TBC)
- ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2029 (Hosts TBC)
- ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2030 (Hosts TBC)
- ICC Women’s T20 Champions Trophy 2031 (Hosts TBC)
Under 19 Events
- ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 (Sri Lanka)
- ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025 (Malaysia & Thailand)
- ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 (Zimbabwe & Namibia)
- ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2027 (Bangladesh & Nepal)
- ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2028 (TBC)
- ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2029 (TBC)
- ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2030 (TBC)
- ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2031 (TBC)
“We are delighted to partner with Sky Sports until 2031 as the home of ICC cricket in the UK and Ireland,” said ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice when announcing the new deal. “The partnership will be a direct relationship with Sky Sports which gives us some exciting opportunities for innovative collaborations. I am confident this partnership can support our long-term ambition to attract more players and more fans to the game.”
Record Figures with More in Store
ICC events have enjoyed record viewing in the UK in recent years. The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 attracted the highest average audience for a cricket tournament in the UK to date. It also drew the highest-ever UK TV peak audience of 8.8 million viewers as Sky shared the rights to the final with Channel 4.
Furthermore, England’s victory over Pakistan in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final last year was the highest-viewed T20 match in the UK following a similar partnership with the terrestrial broadcaster. cricket betting sites also reported record turnover on the final.
“This new direct partnership with the ICC means that Sky Sports viewers in the UK and Ireland can continue to enjoy every ball, run, wicket, and catch from every international tournament for many years to come,” said Jonathan Licht, Managing Director of Sky Sports. “We’re all hugely excited to see what’s in store.”
In December, Sky announced it had signed a new five-year partnership with the United States Tennis Association to televise the US Open Championships. Its coverage of the fourth Grand Slam of the season will begin in August.
