England released a schedule on Thursday for this year's controversial tour of Zimbabwe but said the one-day series was still subject to a security review.
The England and Wales cricket board (ECB) is reluctant to undertake the tour because of the political turmoil in the troubled African country but is contractually obliged to go.
"The Board has concluded that the tour to Zimbabwe must go ahead, subject to it being safe and secure to do so and in the absence of firm instruction from government not to tour," ECB chairman David Morgan said.
The International Cricket Council has said that any country refusing to tour for anything but security reasons or governmental direction would face a multi-million dollar fine and possible suspension.
The ECB said it would send a team to check safety before the tour, which consists of five one-day internationals from November 26 to December 5.
The ruling body added that any player who does not want to go for reasons of conscience would not be penalised.
The Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) said it understood the ECB's position but still had reservations about touring Zimbabwe.
"The decision to tour in no way indicates that players are seeking to ignore the human rights violations in Zimbabwe," PCA chief executive Richard Bevan said.
"We should look instead to the government to provide the lead on any political or moral imperative. They have not intervened on this issue, and continue to allow trade of many descriptions with Zimbabwe,"
England captain Michael Vaughan added: "All the players are aware of the serious nature of this situation. I am aware that deciding to tour is a huge decision for any player."
