The first of England's two winter tours to Sri Lanka could start earlier than planned if they fail to reach the ICC World Twenty20 semi-finals according to Sri Lanka Cricket.

"They [the ECB] have asked if we have any objections to their coming early," an SLC official said. "We have said no objections."

England are scheduled to arrive on September 25 but are looking to bring that forward by three days if they fail to reach the last four in South Africa. The tournament's semi-finals are on September 22 with the final two days later.

England will play their first three matches of the five-match tour in the central town of Dambulla starting on October 1. The last two games are scheduled for the capital Colombo ahead of an October 15 departure.

England return in mid-November for a three-match Test series.