England’s two white-ball series in South Africa next year are in doubt amid the latest scheduling clash that pits franchise cricket against the international game.
As it stands, England’s men are due to play three Tests, three one-day internationals and three Twenty20s in South Africa next winter. The white-ball leg of this rare “full tour” to the country represents an important scouting mission for the World Cup that South Africa are co-hosting in late 2027.
Dates for the marquee Test series that runs from mid-December to 7 January are close to being finalised. But there is growing concern that some or all of the limited-overs leg that follows could be postponed due to a direct clash with the SA20 that runs from 9 January until 14 February.
The Guardian understands the England and Wales Cricket Boar has turned down a request from Cricket South Africa to split the tour and play the white-ball games in February after the SA20 is completed. England’s men are due to play two Tests in Bangladesh during that same period.
It leaves CSA scrambling to find a solution, the SA20 window having been agreed more than a year ago and South Africa’s leading players contracted to appear in the tournament, with no mechanism to withdraw them.
A similar clash with the SA20 in 2024 led to South Africa being criticised for sending a weakened side for two Tests in New Zealand, a series they lost 2-0. While this was waved through at the time, despite technically falling foul of regulations, the International Cricket Council is said to be against a repeat.
CSA is now hoping the SA20 team owners – all six Indian Premier League franchises – can be persuaded to delay the start of the tournament by a few days to allow the ODIs to at least be staged. The three T20s, less relevant to World Cup preparations, would be postponed indefinitely.
Even if this is agreed, access to the leading grounds would still be restricted while they are being readied for the SA20. Locations such as Bloemfontein, Kimberley, Potchefstroom and Benoni would be required to host.
The situation represents another example of how the windows for playing international cricket are shrinking, with boards having sold off chunks of the calendar – and access to the leading players – to private investors.
England do not play during the Hundred but this summer there are just two spare days between the tournament’s conclusion at Lord’s on 16 August and the first Test against Pakistan at Headingley that starts on 19 August.
Under the terms of last year’s sale, the ECB can no longer withdraw England players from the tournament unless they are injured, meaning a short turnaround for any Test players who make the final.
