Flintoff to stay up for BBC award

Flintoff was inspirational in the Ashes victory over Australia

Andrew Flintoff will stay up late on Sunday to see if he wins the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award - even though England play Pakistan on Monday.

Flintoff is a hot favourite to win the prize, which is decided by a live vote.

The all-rounder will need to be awake at 0300 in Lahore to see if he wins but the second one-dayer starts at 1100.

A spokesman for the England and Wales Cricket Board said: "It is obviously not an ideal situation, but it does not seem there is any way around it."

The BBC looked into the possibility of pre-recording a ceremony but it was deemed unfair to ask viewers to vote in such circumstances.

Andrew Flintoff has expressed a desire, should he win it, to receive the award live BBC statement

"The viewers' vote will be continuing while the programme is on air, and the integrity of that vote is obviously something the BBC has to respect at all costs," the ECB spokesman added.

A BBC statement said: "It's important to note that until Sunday evening we will not know who will win Sports Personality of the Year, because it is a live vote on the night.

"In terms of Andrew Flintoff's nomination, all decisions made about his possible receipt of the award have been made in full collaboration and co-operation with the ECB.

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"The award is a very prestigious one and Andrew Flintoff has expressed a desire, should he win it, to receive it live."

If he does win, the Lancashire star will become the first cricketer to take the prestigious trophy since Ian Botham in 1981.

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Like Botham 24 years ago, Flintoff was a key factor in England's Ashes triumph against Australia this summer, taking 24 wickets and scoring 402 runs.

England, meanwhile, have been hotly tipped to win the team of the year prize after their 2-1 Test series triumph against the Australians.