UPDATE: CRICKET fans could be facing a potential blackout for next month’s World T20 in India after Indian host broadcaster Star Sports knocked back offers from Australian networks.

It’s understood Nine and Fox Sports both expressed interest in hosting the event but couldn’t come to terms with Star Sports, which has purchased the broadcasting rights to the International Cricket Council’s major tournaments and can onsell them to other networks.

The ICC is based in the United Arab Emirates which means Australian networks would also have to pay a 30 per cent tax on top of any deal with Star Sports.

Cricket Australia says it remains hopeful next month’s tournament will be shown to Australian TV viewers.

“It’s our priority to have matches involving the Australian men’s and women’s teams broadcast to fans around the country,” a CA spokesman said yesterday.

“We are seeking regular updates from the ICC and Star India, and remain hopeful it can be resolved in the best interests of Australian cricket fans.”

Fox Sports and free-to-air networks Nine and Ten indicated on Wednesday they had no deals in place for the tournament. However it’s understood negotiations are still taking place and the Fox Sports pay-TV network could still mount a late bid to broadcast the March 8 to April 3 event.

Ten was never a serious player in the World T20 rights contest and is happy to focus on the enormous success of the Big Bash League in the Australian summer.

The late-night game times for Australian viewers may also have been a turn-off for some networks.

Fox Sports has telecast previous World T20 tournaments in 2012 and 2014 in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to its Australian viewers. Nine broadcast the Australian matches.

The Nine Network may also still have its hand up as a possible player in any last-minute deal to broadcast the 2016 event.

“Nine is the home of cricket and we would love to bring it to the Australian audience — live and free,” a spokeswoman for Nine said last night.

“We won’t comment on confidential negotiations but we would still welcome the opportunity to bring it to our audience.”

Skipper Steve Smith’s squad will depart on Saturday for a warm-up T20 series in South Africa against the Proteas, starting on March 4.

Australia’s first Group B game in the World T20 is against New Zealand on March 18 in Dharamsala.

Cricket Australia was yesterday celebrating a return to Test cricket’s top ranking following a two-nil sweep in New Zealand, although Smith’s men could face an uphill battle in the T20 format where the team is ranked eighth.

“There has been an enormous amount of hard work and effort on and off the field to reach the top Test ranking and it’s something that those involved with the side, and all Australian cricket lovers, should take time to savour,” CA chief James Sutherland said.