Bevan is one of the party heading to Zimbabwe

John Carr, the ECB's director of cricket operations, and Richard Bevan of the Professional Cricketers' Association will arrive on Sunday.

An ECB spokesman told BBC Sport: "At this stage we fully expect the tour to go ahead in November."

But he added: "Safety and security of the players is most important."

The taskforce will canvass opinion from all sections of the community, including opponents of president Robert Mugabe's ruling party.

They will also inspect the facilities and hotels England will be using on their two-week tour, which involves five one-day internationals starting in Harare on 26 November.

Itinerary: England in Zimbabwe

England have reluctantly agreed to go ahead with the tour because if they withdraw without a legitimate reason, they could face tough penalties from the International Cricket Council.

Safety and security is, however, one of the grounds which could offer England a way out of the tour.

The ECB are also awaiting on the findings of a hearing into alleged racism within the Zimbabwe Cricket Union which led to 15 white players being sacked.

The ICC is set to reveal the decision at its executive board meeting this weekend and could expel Zimbabwe.

If England tour, they will do so wearing their Vodafone-sponsored kit.

Former ECB chairman Lord MacLaurin, now chairman of the telecommunications giant, stated in September 2003 his company did not want England to tour because it could damage the reputations of both England and Vodafone.

But a spokesman told BBC Sport on Thursday: "We haven't got a position [on the Zimbabwe issue]. We sponsor teams but we do not dicate who they play and where they play."