London, June 8: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has advanced the start time of all five T20 Internationals against India by an hour, with the matches now scheduled to begin at 10:00pm IST to maximise television viewership in the subcontinent, according to a media report.
The five T20Is between the two former World Cup winners were earlier slated for 11:00pm IST (6:30pm local time) start, but they have been moved an hour early after discussions with the broadcasters, reported ESPNCricinfo. “Start times for England’s home internationals are finalised after consultation between the ECB, venues, opposition boards, and domestic and overseas broadcasters – in this case, Sky Sports (UK) and the Sony Sports Network (India),” the report said.
“The change in start times from the 6.30pm slot, which has become standard in recent seasons, underlines English cricket’s reliance on “high-value broadcast series” — effectively, those which feature India — which was laid bare in the ECB’s recently published financial report,” it added.
India will also play a three-match ODI series during the tour for which all tickets have been sold out, the report said.
It remains to be seen if batting superstar Virat Kohli, who is nursing a hamstring injury, is fit in time for the tour.
The BCCI last week said it will announce the squad for the England ODI series towards the end of the 50-overs affair against Afghanistan at home, which Kohli will miss. (PTI)
