SHARJAH: The Bangladesh men’s cricket team will visit the UAE this month for a two-match T20 International series against the Emirati national side. The games will be played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on May 17 and 19.

It will be the second T20 series between the two sides in three years, following a two-match encounter in Dubai in September 2022, from which Bangladesh emerged with a 2-0 victory.

Subhan Ahmad, chief operating officer of the Emirates Cricket Board, welcomed the upcoming series and the chance for the UAE to test themselves against an established full member of the ICC from Asia.

“We are excited to host the Bangladesh men’s team for another bilateral T20I series with the UAE men’s team,” he said. “The Emirates Cricket Board is always keen on providing opportunities to the UAE’s national side against quality opponents.

“In the last three years we have hosted ICC full members New Zealand, the West Indies and Afghanistan, while Bangladesh’s T20 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 the UAE ahead of this year’s ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup and we thank the Bangladesh Cricket Board for their support for UAE Cricket. The Sharjah Cricket Stadium is an excellent venue for T20 cricket and we look forward to hosting two exciting games.”

Nizam Uddin Chowdhury, CEO of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, echoed these sentiments and said the series will be an important part of his side’s broader preparations for upcoming competitions.

“We are pleased to see the Bangladesh national team’s return to the UAE,” he said. “The BCB values the opportunity to engage in competitive cricket and we appreciate the initiative of the Emirates Cricket Board in arranging this T20 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. 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.”