England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Wednesday (October 21) confirmed the limited-overs tour to South Africa, comprising three T20Is and three ODIs in Paarl and Cape Town, starting November.
The series, going ahead despite the ongoing administrative chaos within South African cricket, will be England's first away from home since the start of COVID-19 pandemic and is due to take place behind closed doors.
Clouds of uncertainty were hovering over the fixtures due to an intervention from South Africa's sports ministry into affairs of Cricket South Africa (CSA).
The interference was over lack of proper access to a forensic report which had seen the departure of CEO Thabang Moroe in August and could've triggered South Africa's suspension from international cricket, being an ICC violation.
Thankfully the matter didn't affect the series, with the South African government granting exemptions for inbound travel for the England players and management this week.
The English team will depart for the rainbow nation in a chartered flight from London on November 16. After training and few inter-squad practise matches, they'll take on Proteas in the first T20I on November 27 in Cape Town, followed by the next match on November 29 in Paarl and then move back to Newlands for the final T20I on December 1.
ODI series, part of the ICC Super League, will have its first and third fixture played in Cape Town on December 4 & 9, either side of the game in Paarl on December 6.
"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," said ECB chief executive Tom Harrison in a statement. "They are working tirelessly to pull together a bio-secure plan in Cape Town and Paarl."
(Inputs from PTI)
