The Zimbabwe Cricket Union have pleasure in announcing a two-and-a-half-week tour of Zimbabwe by England in October 2001 to play a five-match series of One-Day Internationals.

The England team will arrive in Zimbabwe on Thursday 27 September and return home on Sunday 14 October.

Tim Lamb, ECB Chief Executive, said: "Duncan Fletcher has felt for some time that the England one-day team need to gain more match experience before the next World Cup in South Africa in 2003.

"Our international schedule until then is very busy and this September/October represents the only time when we could arrange such a tour. The squad will be announced in due course."

Duncan Fletcher, England team head coach, said: "The England team which played yesterday at Old Trafford had a collective total of 445 caps. Yesterday's Australian team had 1,214 caps between them, and the Pakistan team which played at Lord's on Tuesday had 1,169 caps."

"Experience at One-Day International level is crucial and, as you can see, we are much less experienced than other teams in this form of the game.

"We are trying to build a team to compete in the 2003 World Cup, and this is going to take time and patience.

"This tour will certainly help and it will also give us further experience of southern African conditions which will be important for 2003."

ITINERARY

Wednesday 26 September England Team Depart England

Thursday 27 September Arrive Zimbabwe

Monday 1 October Warm-up vs. Zimbabwe `A' Alexandra S.C

Wednesday 3 October 1st ODI Harare Sports Club

Saturday 6 October 2nd ODI Harare Sports Club

Sunday 7 October 3rd ODI Harare Sports Club

Wednesday 10 October 4th ODI Queens Sports Club, Byo

Saturday 13 October 5th ODI Queens Sports Club, Byo

Sunday 14 October Depart Zimbabwe

Monday 15 October Arrive England

© ZCU