Google has done a deal with the Indian Premier League, which runs the country's Twenty20 cricket matches, to allow live streaming of the games on YouTube.

All 60 games from the IPL season will be streamed live on YouTube, which previously only showed highlights from matches.

Google and the IPL believe this will be the first time a global cricket game has been streamed live, and it is also the first time Google has broadcast a live sporting event. Special content, like interviews, highlights and pitch reports will also be available on a dedicated YouTube channel. It will be free to access from everywhere except the US, where matches are being re-broadcast, (and no-one understands cricket).

The news is also likely to worry some broadcasters - sport has always been a used as a big selling point for the likes of BSkyB.

The league only launched in 2008, but is already a massive deal in India, with TV audiences as big as they are for international games.

The eight teams start the season by bidding for players - most expensive this year were West Indian Kieron Pollard and Kiwi Shane Bond at $750,000 each.

Pakistan has reacted with fury to news that none of its shortlisted players have been chosen. ®

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