Bangladesh is set to engage in two T20 international matches against the United Arab Emirates in Sharjah, as part of their preparations for the upcoming five-match series in Pakistan. This initiative by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is aimed at getting ready for the Asia Cup later this year and the T20 World Cup in 2026.
The Emirates Cricket Board officially announced the schedule on May 2, with the matches planned for May 17 and May 19 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Both games are scheduled to start at 7:00 PM local time, which is 9:00 PM in Bangladesh.
This marks the second time Bangladesh has played a bilateral T20I series in the UAE, having previously toured there in September 2022 when they secured victories in both encounters against the host nation.
“We are delighted to welcome Bangladesh for another T20I series,” stated Subhan Ahmed, the CEO of the Emirates Cricket Board. “Our objective is to constantly arrange matches against competitive teams to aid the development of our players.” Over the past few years, the UAE has also hosted cricket series involving teams like New Zealand, West Indies, and Afghanistan.
After the matches in the UAE, the Bangladesh team will travel directly to Pakistan for a five-match T20I series, which will take place in Faisalabad and Lahore. The first two matches are slated for Faisalabad on May 25 and May 27, marking the return of international cricket to this venue after a 17-year hiatus. The series will then conclude in Lahore, with the last three matches scheduled for May 30, June 1, and June 3.
Although the initial Future Tours Programme (FTP) had outlined a plan for three ODIs alongside three T20Is, both cricket boards have mutually decided to eliminate the 50-over formats in favor of increasing the number of T20 matches.
As this year’s Asia Cup will also be contested in the T20 format, the BCB is prioritizing shorter matches as part of their strategic preparations for the T20 World Cup in 2026.