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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 again st England, UAE and Pakistan ‘A 'followed by a further three 50-over matches against Pakistan ‘A.'

ECB Managing Director, England Cricket, Hugh Morris 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."