Lancashire off to Abu Dhabi

Glen Chapple believes the trip to Dubai will provide ideal preparation for next season

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Lancashire will be returning to the United Arab Emirates in March to contest the Pro ARCH Trophy, as part of their preparations for the 2009 season.

In total, six counties will be taking part in the tournament, which will be held in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah between March 17-25 2009.

Yorkshire and Lancashire, who finished winners and runners-up in the event earlier this year, will be joined by Sussex, Essex, Surrey and Middlesex while the UAE national team and a Fly Emirates invitational team will complete the line-up for the Emirates Airline Pro ARCH Trophy.

Lancashire cricket manager Mike Watkinson said: "It was a rewarding experience last year and we hope it would offer good match practice for the forthcoming season.

“We will not have the likes of (Andrew) Flintoff, James Anderson or Sajid Mahmood, but will be sending the best possible team there," said Watkinson.

Lancashire captain Glen Chapple added: "This year's event gave the players the perfect opportunity to train and play in warm conditions against strong county opposition.

"The facilities and weather were spot-on, and the improved format for next year should provide the ideal preparation ahead of the new season."

The tournament will see a new format in 2009, where there will two pools of four teams with each team playing three group matches (50-overs day-night fixtures).

Thereafter, the top two finishers of either group will play-off for the trophy, while those finishing down the table will take on their respective team from the other group to determine the final standings.

The Shaikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah Stadium will again be staging the competition.