The BBC have been slammed by MP Julian Knight, who chairs the Digital, Culture, Media & Sport select committee, over their decision to cover England's historic tour of Pakistan remotely.
The seven match T20I series is due to begin on Tuesday and is the first time England have played cricket in Pakistan in 17 years. However, BBC Test Match Special is set to provide commentary remotely from the UK.
They are, though, hoping to send a full commentary team to Pakistan for the three match Test series in December. However, Knight has called the decision a "scandal", before hitting out at the BBC for 'wasting huge sums' on Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker.
"It's a scandal that the first series in Pakistan for nearly a generation is not going to be covered properly," Knight told the Telegraph. "The BBC's top brass always cite cost cutting, but while they waste huge sums on the likes of Gary Lineker and groan under the weight of middle managers, they cannot be taken seriously in any way."
Much-loved former Test Match Special commentator Henry Blofeld, who stepped away from the microphone in 2017, added: "Is it a question of BBC cuts? Is it a question of safety? It is a question of difficulty in getting the cooperation of the broadcasting authorities there?
"We are living in an age when everything is much tighter. It's jolly sad but it's a question of housekeeping, isn't it?"
In response, a BBC spokesperson said: "How we cover events can vary but we guarantee our audiences will get all the action they expect from 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra with commentary and live coverage from the series."
Sky Sports, meanwhile, will use the international feed, with their staff commentator and former England batter Mark Butcher joining the host broadcaster's commentary team in Pakistan.
England legend David Gower is also part of the host broadcaster's team, meaning he will be back on Sky for the first time since his 2019 exit when they decided not to renew both his and Ian Botham's contracts.
