BBC to provide T20 World Cup radio commentary after extending ICC deal

The period of a new four-year deal also covers 50-over World Cups for both men and women, two women's T20 World Cups and the 2026 men's T20 World Cup

The Cricketer | 30/05/2024 at 12:12

Radio commentary from every match of the upcoming Men's T20 World Cup will be available to listeners after BBC Test Match Special extended its rights deal with the ICC for four more years.

No arrangement had officially been announced for the World Cup, which begins on Sunday with a clash between United States and Canada in Grand Prairie, but it has now been confirmed by TMS producer Adam Mountford.

The period of the deal also covers 50-over World Cups for both men and women, two women's T20 World Cups and the 2026 men's T20 World Cup.

"We know from our fifty-plus years of broadcasting men's and women's world tournaments that these are events that really resonate with audiences and it's brilliant that our new deal begins with England's defence of their Men's T20 World Cup title."

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^{England look to defend their T20 World Cup crown in the Caribbean (Getty Images)}

The agreement also includes next year's Champions Trophy, as well as a new women's T20 tournament along the same lines in 2027, and future Under-19 World Cups.

It is an important deal for the BBC, who hold the rights to England home series on Test Match Special until 2028, and Cricket Australia for the next men's and women's Ashes down under, but have seen their commercial rivals talkSPORT2 regularly pick off other England’s men’s overseas tours.

The Cricketer understands that in-game digital clips will also be available on the BBC Sport website during this T20 World Cup, but there was no mention of long-term agreement on these lucrative clips across the four years.

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