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England's SA Tour Cut: Franchise Cricket Reigns
23 Feb
Summary
- England's T20 series in South Africa cancelled due to SA20.
- Three ODIs will be played in smaller grounds in January.
- SA20 tournament's timing has previously caused scheduling conflicts.
England's upcoming Twenty20 series in South Africa, scheduled for next January, has been cancelled. This decision underscores the increasing dominance of franchise cricket leagues. The white-ball portion of England's tour was threatened by a scheduling conflict with the SA20 tournament, initially set to run from January 9 to February 14, 2027.
While the T20 matches were removed from the itinerary, negotiations between the England and Wales Cricket Board and Cricket South Africa have secured three ODIs. These one-day internationals will take place from January 10 to 15, 2027. However, due to SA20's venue bookings, the ODIs will be hosted at smaller grounds in Paarl and Bloemfontein.
The cancellation of the T20 series was deemed the most viable solution by both cricket boards to ensure at least one competitive series occurs. The ODIs were prioritized given that South Africa is co-hosting the 50-over World Cup in October and November 2027.
This is not the first time the SA20's timing has caused international cricket disruptions. South Africa previously sent a reserve team to New Zealand for a Test series, an outcome they were keen to avoid repeating. England's request to play the white-ball games in February after SA20 concluded was rejected, as England's Test side is scheduled to tour Bangladesh during that period.
