Lancashire aces could return to the UAE

4:50am Wednesday 10th September 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

LANCASHIRE are in negotiations to return to the United Arab Emirates next spring to use the Pro ARCH Trophy as their pre-season tour.

The Red Rose county have been formally invited to take part in an eight-team competition, which will be played out in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah between March 19-26.

Lancashire finished last season’s competition as runners-up behind rivals Yorkshire, who were the only side to beat them in four matches.

England star Andrew Flintoff used the trip successfully as part of his comeback from a fourth left ankle operation, and Lancashire beat the United Arab Emirates, county champions Sussex and Essex.

Eight teams will be split into two groups of four. There will be two games each day, one at Abu Dhabi and one at Sharjah.

As per last year, the games will be played over 50 overs in the format of the Friends Provident Trophy and one-day internationals. Each team will play three group games, followed by a play-off game against the team in the corresponding group who finishes in the same position. Thus giving final standings, and the overall winner.

Yorkshire, Essex, Middlesex, Sussex and Ireland have also been formally invited. One more team has yet to be invited, while the UAE national side is expected to be involved again.

Yorkshire won the title last March with a thrilling run chase against the host nation at Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Stadium in the final game of the competition.

Manager Mike Watkinson has named a 13-man squad for tonight’s penultimate Pro40 League Division One floodlit clash at Nottinghamshire.

Bolton batsman Karl Brown retains his place for a game which Lancashire must win to avoid the possibility of a third placed play-off.