English sports fans face missing out on major event as TV rights still not sold just two weeks before it starts

CRICKET fans may be unable to watch England’s test series with India in just over a fortnight’s time.

Ben Stokes and Co are set to travel to India for a clash with one of the heavyweights of the sport later this month.

Reuters

Ben Stokes and Co are set to head to India later this month[/caption]

England fans have been left sweating over whether they will actually be able to watch the test series… as rights have not yet been sold.

Sky Sports and TNT Sports are ordinarily the big players in the UK market when it comes to securing rights for big events.

According to The Times, however, neither have yet “actually engaged” in the bidding process for the rights.

England last travelled to India for a test series three years ago.

On that occasion fans were able to watch on free-to-air telly, with Channel 4 picking up the rights.

They paid £7million to screen the four tests, when rights holders Star had initially been hoping to secure around £20m.

The bidding process went to the wire on that occasion too, with Channel 4 only sealing a deal three days before.

Their cobbled together coverage consisted of a studio team in the UK and world feed commentary, with none of their own reporters or pundits on site.

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It is believed that Channel 4 are unlikely to enter the bidding at the 11th hour on this occasion.

Despite TV coverage still being up in the air, fans WILL be able to listen to the action unfold on the radio.

UK radio rights have been snapped up by talkSPORT, who will cover the series which gets underway on January 25.