Sky Sports bags cricket rights for Bangladesh series

The deal for two Tests and three One-Day Internationals follows the recent agreement to show England’s tour against Pakistan in the UAE next month.

The deal will be seen as a counter punch to BT Sport, after Sky’s rival bagged rights for England’s defence of the Ashes in 2017/2018 down under.

But SkySports will still show home internationals, due to a deal with the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Pubs can air more than 50 England Tests and 360 days of live England cricket on SkySports over the next five years, as well as every ICC competition until 2023.

Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports, said: “Sky Sports will offer the complete England story – home and away – over the next two years.  

"It’s exciting times for English cricket and thanks to this agreement our viewers can follow the team’s progress in all formats of the game, including ICC events. There’s a real sense of excitement building around English cricket after a thrilling Ashes summer and Sky will be with the team every step of the way.” 

A packed upcoming England schedule features a winter tour to South Africa, the ICC World Twenty20 in India, and two home series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

England’s Bangladesh tour is immediately followed by a five Test series in India, and England host the West Indies and South Africa in 2017, as well as the ICC Champions Trophy.

This is the latest in a series of rights deals announced by Sky Sports over the last 18 months. Major additions have included the Barclays Premier League for another four years, Open Championship golf from 2017, Matchroom boxing until 2021, La Liga, Major League Soccer, and most recently the Heavyweight World title clash between Wladimir Klitschko and Tyson Fury next month. 

SkySports has extended its deal for Scottish football, and will show 30 top flight matches a season until 2020.

SkySports has also announced upcoming Football League.

Sat 14 Nov           Rochdale v Wigan            KO 12.30pm

Sun 15 Nov         Hartlepool v L Orient      KO 12.15pm

Fri 20 Nov            Middlesbrough v QPR    KO 7.45pm

Sat 21 Nov           Bristol City v Hull City      KO 12.30pm

Sun 22 Nov         Burnley v Brighton           KO 1.15pm

Fri 27 Nov            Hull City v Derby Co         KO 7.45pm

Sat 28 Nov           Charlton v Ipswich           KO 12.30pm

Mon 30 Nov       Bolton v Brentford          KO 7.45pm