Bangladesh was scheduled to play a five-match T20I series against Pakistan this May. However, rising tensions between India and Pakistan have cast doubt over the series taking place as planned. In the lead-up to the uncertain Pakistan tour, Bangladesh will now play two T20 matches against the United Arab Emirates as part of their preparations.
If everything goes according to plan, the Bangladesh team will fly to the UAE in two separate groups on Wednesday—one departing in the morning and the other in the evening. The two T20Is are scheduled for May 17 and 19 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, with both matches set to begin at 9:00 PM Bangladesh time.
This series marks the beginning of Bangladesh’s full-scale preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup. It will also serve as the first assignment for new T20 captain Liton Das. He will be supported by Sheikh Mehdi Hasan as vice-captain, although Mehdi’s role is not expected to be a permanent one.
Originally, Bangladesh’s away series against Pakistan was slated to begin on May 25 and 27 with the first two matches in Faisalabad. The final three matches were planned for May 30, June 1, and June 3 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. However, the future of that series remains uncertain due to geopolitical tensions.
Despite the uncertainty, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has been actively preparing for both series. A training camp for the T20 squad was held in Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, where the players completed their final practice session yesterday.
