In a lead-up to their Pakistan tour, Bangladesh are set to play two T20 Internationals against the United Arab Emirates, with matches scheduled in Sharjah on 17 and 19 May. This will mark the second time the two teams have met for a bilateral T20 series in the past three years. In their previous encounter in 2022, held in Dubai, Bangladesh emerged victorious with a 2-0 win.
Subhan Ahmad, COO of the Emirates Cricket Board, remarked, “In the last three years, we have hosted ICC Full Members New Zealand, West Indies and Afghanistan, while Bangladesh’s T20I series tour is their second bilateral tour of the UAE in three years. The two-match Bangladesh series will provide an ideal preparation opportunity for UAE ahead of this year’s T20 Asia Cup.”
For Bangladesh, this is merely the beginning of a busy T20 calendar. Following the Pakistan visit, they’ll head to Sri Lanka for two Tests, three One Day Internationals and two T20 games. August brings India to Bangladesh for three ODIs and three T20 Internationals, all precursors to the Asia Cup.
Bangladesh Cricket Board’s CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury expressed his gratitude, stating, “We appreciate the initiative of the Emirates Cricket Board in arranging this T20I series. These matches will serve as an important part of our team’s preparations ahead of a packed international calendar, including the upcoming Asia Cup.” He added that the games are expected to not only foster stronger ties between the two cricket boards but also entertain fans.
Meanwhile, the UAE team is currently competing in the World Cup League 2 in the Netherlands. They find themselves at the bottom of the table, with two victories from 11 matches.
