The T20 World Cup final will reportedly be broadcast on free-to-air TV if England are able to beat India in their bumper semi-final clash on Thursday.
Sky Sports have exclusive rights to air the tournament, but notably partnered with Channel 4 in 2019 to showcase England's dramatic 50-over World Cup win on terrestrial TV. And the Daily Mail report that the broadcaster is planning something similar with the T20 World Cup final.
The report states that, while Sky are yet to officially confirm their plans, they are 'ready to screen the final for free on their own channels or in conjunction with a terrestrial broadcaster if England are involved'.
Channel 4 are said to be the most likely terrestrial broadcaster to partner with Sky, while the final could also be shown on the Sky Sports Cricket YouTube channel or on one of their Freeview channels like they did with the Women's Cricket World Cup final earlier this year.
Sky have also previously shared live coverage of Wales' World Cup play-off against Ukraine last summer with ITV and the 2021 Formula 1 season finale where Max Verstappen controversially beat Lewis Hamilton to the world title with Channel 4.
However, England face a stiff challenge in their bid to reach the final, with India racking up the most points of any team in Super 12 stage. And star all-rounder Ben Stokes has called on his England teammates to invoke the spirit of their 2019 World Cup win ahead of the semi-final.
"We’re in a position now that it's do or die," he said. "What I don't think anyone will do going into this game is take a backward step.
"We talk a lot about the way in which we want to play and how we want to play when it comes to the pressure moments, and what we'll see here is us trying to deliver on what we talk about, not taking the cautious option. We've seen glimpses of what we're able to do but we know as a team we’ve not really played to the levels that we would have liked to.
"The way we went out and played, that game against India in 2019 and Australia as well, just look at the mindset and mentality going into those games, which were do or die games. We didn't take a backward step so I think we can take a lot of confidence, knowing that if we go in with the similar mindsets to we had in those big games, then hopefully we'll do all right."
