England and England Lions head for UAE ahead of Bangladesh tour

The ECB today announced that England will play two T20 Internationals against Pakistan at Dubai Sports City, Dubai, UAE next month ahead of their forthcoming tour to Bangladesh.

England Lions are also scheduled to tour the UAE next month and their programme of matches will include T20 contests against England, UAE and Pakistan ‘A “followed by a further three 50-over matches against Pakistan ‘A.“

ECB Managing Director, England Cricket, Hugh Morris (pictured) said: “’We are delighted to have agreed in partnership with Pakistan Cricket Board and Dubai Sports City for such a comprehensive programme of cricket in the UAE for both England and England Lions.

“The two T20 Internationals against the current world champions in this format of the game will be an exciting challenge for the England team and provide important additional T20 international experience before the next ICC WT20 tournament in the Caribbean in April.

“The combination of three T20 matches and three 50-over matches for the England Lions team to be played at Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi will also provide those players with an excellent opportunity to push their case for selection for the England One-Day side as we continue to build not only for the World T20 in West Indies later this year but also for the ICC World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.”

Following the second T20 against Pakistan, England will fly from Dubai to Dhaka on 21 February for the three match ODI Series v Bangladesh where they will complete their preparation period playing two 50-over tour matches on 23 and 25 February before the 1st ODI on 28 February.

The 25,000 seater Dubai International Cricket Stadium will play host to Pakistan and England in the two T20 Internationals next month. The stadium has been widely acclaimed within the cricket world and will host the first international cricket by England in UAE since Adam Hollioake led the ODI squad to victory in the Sharjah Tournament in December 1997.

Hugh Morris added: “We have received extremely positive reports about the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, are very grateful to Dubai Sports City for their co-operation and I am sure that the England team will be looking forward to playing at the venue and experiencing its world class facilities.”

England Schedule in UAE

14 February 2010
Teams arrive
Dubai

15-16 February 2010
Teams practice
DSC

17 February 2010
Pakistan A v Pakistan T20

England v England Lions T20
Abu Dhabi

18 February 2010
Teams practice
Dubai International Cricket Stadium

19 February 2010
1st T20 (evening)
Dubai International Cricket Stadium

20 February 2010
2nd T20 (evening)
Dubai International Cricket Stadium

21 February 2010
England depart for Bangladesh

England Lions v Pakistan A – Schedule in UAE

7 February 2010
Teams arrive
Dubai – travel to Sharjah

8 February 2010
Teams practice
Sharjah

9 February 2010
England Lions practice
Sharjah

9 February 2010
UAE v Pakistan A T20 Match
Sharjah

10 February 2010
Pakistan A practice
Sharjah

10 February 2010
UAE v England Lions T20 Match
Sharjah

11 February 2010
Teams practice
Sharjah

12 February 2010
1st T20 England Lions v Pakistan A
Sharjah

13 February 2010
Teams practice
Sharjah

14 February 2010
2nd T20 England Lions v Pakistan A
Sharjah

15 February 2010
Teams practice
Abu Dhabi

16 February 2010
3rd T20 England Lions v Pakistan A
Abu Dhabi

17 February 2010
Pakistan A v Pakistan T20

England Lions v England T20
Abu Dhabi

18 – 20 February 2010
Teams practice
tbc

21 February 2010
Teams practice
Dubai International Cricket Stadium

22 February 2010
1st 50-over match

England Lions v Pakistan A
Dubai International Cricket Stadium

23 February 2010
Teams practice
Dubai International Cricket Stadium

24 February 2010
2nd 50-over match

England Lions v Pakistan A
Dubai International Cricket Stadium

25 February 2010
Teams practice
Dubai International Cricket Stadium

26 February 2010
3rd 50-over match

England Lions v Pakistan A
Dubai International Cricket Stadium

27 February 2010
Teams depart

Updated itinerary for England to Bangladesh 2010

21 Feb – Sun
Team arrives
Zia Int.

22 Feb – Mon
Rest & Practice
tbc

23 Feb – Tue
1 day Warm up Match vs. BCB XI
NOS

24 Feb – Wed
Rest & Practice
tbc

25 Feb – Thu
1 day Warm up Match vs. B
CB XI
NOS

26 Feb – Fri
Rest & Practice
SBNCS

27 Feb – Sat
Rest & Practice
SBNCS

28 Feb – Sun
1st ODI Bangladesh vs. England
SBNCS

01 Mar – Mon
Rest & Practice
SBNCS

02 Mar – Tue
2nd ODI Bangladesh vs. England
SBNCS

03 Mar – Wed
Travel to Chittagong
JACSC

04 Mar – Thu
Rest & Practice
JACSC

05 Mar – Fri
3rd ODI Bangladesh vs. England
JACSC

06 Mar – Sat
Rest & Practice
JACSC

07 Mar – Sun
3 Day Warm Up Vs. Bangladesh “A” Team
MA AZIZ

08 Mar – Mon
3 Day Warm Up Vs. Bangladesh “A” Team
MA AZIZ

09 Mar – Tue
3 Day Warm Up Vs. Bangladesh “A” Team
MA AZIZ

10 Mar – Wed
Rest & Practice
JACSC

11 Mar – Thu
Rest & Practice
JACSC

12 Mar – Fri
Bangladesh vs. England 1st Test (Day-1)
JACSC

13 Mar – Sat
Bangladesh vs. England 1st Test (Day-2)
JACSC

14 Mar – Sun
Bangladesh vs. England 1st Test (Day-3)
JACSC

15 Mar – Mon
Bangladesh vs. England 1st Test (Day-4)
JACSC

16 Mar – Tue
Bangladesh vs. England 1st Test (Day-5)

Travel to Dhaka
JACSC

17 Mar – Wed
Rest & Practice
SBNCS

18 Mar – Thu
Rest & Practice
SBNCS

19 Mar – Fri
Rest & Practice
SBNCS

20 Mar – Sat
Bangladesh vs. England 2nd Test (Day-1)
SBNCS

21 Mar – Sun
Bangladesh vs. England 2nd Test (Day-2)
SBNCS

22 Mar – Mon
Bangladesh vs. England 2nd Test (Day-3)
SBNCS

23 Mar – Tue
Bangladesh vs. England 2nd Test (Day-4)
SBNCS

24 Mar – Wed
Bangladesh vs. England 2nd Test (Day-5)
SBNCS

25 Mar – Wed
Travel back to England
Zia Int.

SBNCS : Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka.
JACSC: Jahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong.
NOS : Narayangonj Osmani Stadium, Narayangonj.

Photo:Getty Images