The ICC has signed a four-year deal with the BBC ©Getty Images

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has signed a four-year deal with the BBC which will see the British company show video highlights of the sport’s major events on its website.

The agreement, signed today, will cover the upcoming World Twenty20, due to take place in India in March and April, next year’s Champions Trophy and the Women’s World Cup, also scheduled to be held in 2017.

It also includes the ICC’s flagship men’s quadrennial tournament in the 50-over format of the game, the World Cup, in England and Wales in 2019.

Under the partnership, the BBC will be able to broadcast six minutes per hour of play on the BBC Sport website, with coverage featuring end of day round-ups, digital preview programming features and archive material.

“The ICC is delighted to partner with BBC Sport in the United Kingdom, which is widely respected and followed due to its ability and resources to produce high-quality cricket content,” ICC finance and commercial affairs committee chairman Giles Clarke, also the President of the England and Wales Cricket Board, said.

“As the United Kingdom will be host to three important ICC Events between 2017 and 2019, this deal confirms the ICC’s enthusiasm and commitment to take its events to all its fans irrespective of where they are in the United Kingdom and how they are following these tournaments.

“I have no doubts that this partnership will take cricket coverage to a completely new level and will benefit both the ICC as well as the BBC with cricket being the ultimate winner.”

The deal between the ICC and the BBC covers a series of major cricket events including the World Cup
The deal between the ICC and the BBC covers a series of major cricket events including the World Cup ©Getty Images

The move marks a further venture for world cricket’s governing body into the British market after it recently partnered with Sunset+Vine, who secured the production rights for the ICC’s Non Live Programming for events between 2016 and 2019.

The company also successfully bid for the ICC’s live events production contract for the same period.

“We’re very pleased to announce this new agreement with the ICC, which is all about free to air accessibility and bringing the best of cricket to as wide an audience as possible,” BBC Sport director Barbara Slater said.

“There is a strong appetite among audiences for the sport and we’re looking forward to helping deliver them the best of the action from these major events through to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

“The online rights will complement our live radio commentary portfolio and popular online offering, giving audiences video of the best of the action wherever they are.”