Dubai: The Bermuda cricket team arrived in Dubai yesterday to play five One-day matches at the International Cricket Council Global Cricket Academy Oval ground from Tuesday.
"We have arranged two One-day matches against the UAE Under-19 team that is preparing for the Asian Cricket Council Elite Under-19 tournament in Bangkok and Changmai next month and three One-day matches against the UAE senior team," said Mazhar Khan, the administrator of the Emirates Cricket Board, to Gulf News.
Bermuda is being led by their experienced left-handed batsman David Hemp, who has played for Glamorgan and Warwickshire. The team coach is Australian David Moore, the former West Indies team coach.
"Bermuda and the UAE team will get to play in the newly-laid ICC Global Cricket Academy's Oval ground. I am sure both teams will relish the conditions at the Global Cricket Academy. The last match of the series on January 10 against UAE will be played at the Sharjah Stadium," added Khan.
"For Bermuda this tour will give them the opportunity to get a feel of the conditions here before they compete in the ICC World Cricket League event to be held in Dubai from April 8 to 15," said Khan.
"Our Under-19 team will greatly benefit playing against Bermuda as we are keen to give them good exposure. Top two teams from the Elite tournament can qualify for the ICC Under-19 World Cup."
Bermuda will miss Stephen Outerbridge and Irving Romaine due to injury.
"The 15 players selected for the tour of Dubai have been given the opportunity by the Bermuda Cricket Board to experience conditions that the team will encounter in April 2011 during the WCL Division 2 Qualifying tournament," Moore said.
"It is vital that all the selected players take their opportunity and continue the hard work and commitment that is expected of international athletes and representatives of the Bermudian people."
