England will travel to South Africa for a white-ball series next month.
The Three Lions will play three T20Is and three ODIs behind closed doors in Cape Town and Paarl across November and December.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) have agreed to biosecurity and travel plans for what will be the first international tour undertaken by an England cricket team since the Covid-19 pandemic began.
CSA approved the plans with the South African government earlier this week granting exemptions for inbound travel for the England players and management.
The touring party will be based in Cape Town. Ahead of the T20I series, the squad will train at Western Province Cricket Club. They will play three intra-squad practice matches – two T20s and one 50-over game – before the series starts.
The first of three T20Is starts on Friday, 27 November at Newlands, Cape Town. The second match of the series will be played at Boland Park, Paarl, on November 29. Newlands will host the third match on December 1.
The three-match ODI series, which are part of the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League, starts at Newlands on December 4. The second match will be played at Boland Park on December 6, and the final game of the tour will take place on December 9 at Newlands.
‘We Owe it to the Sport,' Says Harrison
Tom Harrison, ECB’s chief executive officer, said: “We are looking forward to touring South Africa.
“I would like to personally thank Cricket South Africa for their efforts in ensuring this tour goes ahead and their diligent work to create an environment that is safe for our players and staff. They are working tirelessly to pull together a bio-secure plan in Cape Town and Paarl.
“We owe it to the sport that we do everything we can to keep international competition progressing during this pandemic.
“Series against the Proteas are always exciting and intense. We saw that earlier this year in South Africa and we can expect the same this time around.”
The news of the tour being confirmed was also welcomed by Cricket South Africa.
This is a wonderful boost for cricket,” added CSA acting chief executive Kugandrie Govender, “and, although all the matches will have to be played behind closed doors, I am sure that our Proteas fans will rally behind South Africa’s favourite team as they always do, but just on alternative digital and social media platforms.
“The fact that England are the current World Cup champions will add tremendously to the two series and will give our own players every motivation to perform at their very best to challenge the reigning champions.”
