Sky Sports has extended its long-running broadcast partnership with Cricket South Africa (CSA) for the 2026-27 season, securing exclusive UK and Ireland coverage of South Africa’s home men’s and women’s international programme over the coming months.
The agreement gives Sky Sports and NOW a 34-match international schedule featuring five touring teams and running through April 2027. Its centrepiece will be England Men’s visit to South Africa, comprising three Tests and three ODIs across December and January.
The deal was negotiated by IMG, which serves as CSA’s international media rights partner. It continues a broadcasting relationship that has seen Sky carry international cricket from South Africa for more than three decades.
England tour headlines Sky’s South Africa package
England’s first Test tour of South Africa for seven years begins at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on December 17. The series moves to Centurion for the Boxing Day Test before concluding in Cape Town from January 3.
Three ODIs will follow, beginning in Paarl on January 10 before two matches in Bloemfontein on January 13 and 15. The white-ball series will form part of England’s preparations for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, which South Africa will co-host with Zimbabwe and Namibia later that year.
The Test series will also be Stephen Fleming’s first in charge as England Men’s Test Head Coach.
The new agreement ensures Sky retains the South African rights for the tour after its previous CSA arrangement concluded at the end of the 2025-26 season.
Five touring teams included in broadcast schedule
England represents one part of a broader international inventory secured under the extension. Australia Men, Bangladesh, India Women and Australia Women will also tour South Africa during the rights period.
Australia Men’s programme consists of three ODIs followed by three Tests across September and October. Bangladesh will then arrive for two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is between November and December.
South Africa Women will host India Women for three ODIs, a Test and three T20Is in December. Australia Women will complete the international schedule with three T20Is, three ODIs and a Test between March and April 2027.
The combination gives Sky a continuous portfolio of South African international cricket spanning both national teams and all three major formats.
CSA extension adds to Sky’s cricket rights portfolio
The CSA agreement extends Sky’s presence in South African cricket beyond international matches. The broadcaster also carries the SA20, the country’s domestic men’s T20 franchise competition.
In England, Sky holds rights to home men’s and women’s international cricket through the 2028 season, alongside domestic coverage. Its overseas cricket portfolio also includes competitions such as the Indian Premier League and Australia’s Big Bash League.
The broadcaster has shown every England Men’s Test series staged in South Africa during its more than three decades of coverage from the country.
With the latest CSA agreement in place, that relationship will continue through a 2026-27 home season spanning 34 internationals and culminating with Australia Women’s Test in Potchefstroom in April.
