Bangladesh set for key T20I series before Pakistan tour

Bangladesh is all set to start a packed international cricket season with a two-match T20I series against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Sharjah on May 17 and 19. This series will serve as a key preparation step for both teams ahead of major upcoming tournaments.

It will be the second bilateral T20I series between the two sides in the last three years. Their previous meeting in 2022, held in Dubai, ended with Bangladesh winning both matches.

"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," said Subhan Ahmad, Chief Operating Officer of the Emirates Cricket Board.

"The two-match Bangladesh series will provide an ideal preparation opportunity for UAE ahead of this year's T20 Asia Cup," he added.

For Bangladesh, this tour marks the beginning of a long stretch of T20I fixtures leading into the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup next year. After the UAE series, the team will head to Pakistan for a five-match T20I series starting on May 25.

Following the Pakistan tour, Bangladesh will travel to Sri Lanka in July for a full series, which includes two Tests, three ODIs, and two T20Is. In August, they will host India for three ODIs and three T20Is ahead of the Asia Cup.

"We appreciate the initiative of the Emirates Cricket Board in arranging this T20I series," said Nizam Uddin Chowdhury, CEO of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

"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. 

"We are confident that these two games will further strengthen the cricketing ties between the BCB and ECB and provide quality entertainment to the cricket fans," he added.

Meanwhile, UAE is currently playing in the ICC World Cup League 2 in the Netherlands, where they sit at the bottom of the table with only two wins from 11 matches.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently confirmed that Bangladesh will visit Pakistan for a five-match T20I series from May 25 to June 3. The series will be played at two venues — Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad and Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Originally, the series was supposed to include three ODIs and three T20Is as part of the ICC Future Tours Programme. However, both cricket boards agreed to convert all matches into T20Is to help prepare for the T20 World Cup.

The Bangladesh squad is expected to arrive in Pakistan on May 21 and will train in Faisalabad from May 22 to 24.

Pakistan has a strong record against Bangladesh in T20Is, having won 16 out of the 19 matches played between the two teams.

Pakistan vs Bangladesh T20I series schedule:

• 25 May – 1st T20I at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad (8:00 PM local time)
• 27 May – 2nd T20I at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad (8:00 PM local time)
• 30 May – 3rd T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (8:00 PM local time)
• 1 June – 4th T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (8:00 PM local time)
• 3 June – 5th T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (8:00 PM local time)