Sky Sports wins England Test series with Pakistan

Sky Sports has won the rights to show England’s tour against Pakistan, when Alastair Cook’s Ashes winners travel to UAE in October.

“From the New Zealand series through to the Ashes we saw the development of a number of young players stepping up, and over the next five years with more than 50 England Tests, Sky Sports will be the place to watch them develop, beginning with this winter series against Pakistan and then South Africa.” – Sky Sports Managing Director Barney Francis

Following England’s victory over Australia their next Test series comes less than two months later and marks the start of the winter schedule with England also touring South Africa, before the ICC T20 World Cup in India next March – all exclusively live on Sky Sports. The deal ensures that over the next five years Sky Sports will show more than 50 England Tests, and over 350 scheduled days of live England cricket, as well as every ICC competition until 2023.

England will play three Tests with Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, as well as five ODIs and three T20 internationals. The first Test takes place in Abu Dhabi on 13 October.

“It was a fantastic Ashes summer on Sky Sports, more than 5m people watched our coverage and now we look forward to seeing the evolution of the England team as they head into the winter tours.” – Sky Sports Managing Director Barney Francis

Sky Sports acquired the rights through Ten Sports long term partners through deals with Sri Lanka Cricket and West Indies Cricket. Earlier this year Sky Sports extended its broadcast partnership with the England & Wales Cricket Board until 2019. The agreement offers cricket fans unprecedented coverage of England home fixtures, county matches, women’s and age grade cricket.

This year Sky Sports has secured a number of major rights deals, including Premier League until 2019, Open Championship golf from 2017, Matchroom boxing until 2021, La Liga and Major League Soccer.