UAE to host West Indies for three-match ODI series in June

West Indies. (Photo by WIKUS DE WET/AFP via Getty Images)

West Indies will lock horns with United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a three-match One-Day Internationals series in Sharjah in June to prepare for the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe. The three ODIs will be played on Monday (5 June), Wednesday (7 June) and Friday (9 June).

Following the series, both teams will leave for Zimbabwe for their World Cup qualifying campaign which begins on 18 June. The tournament will confirm the remaining two spots for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 scheduled to be played in India from October 5.

West Indies finished on the ninth spot in the Cricket World Cup Super League (2020-2023) table with nine wins from 24 games while Zimbabwe finished on the 12th spot with six wins from 24 matches. Notably, the two teams have played just two ODIs so far, first during the 2015 ODI World Cup and the second time in the ICC Cricket World Cup qualifier in 2018, West Indies won on both occasions. 

West Indies played their last series against South Africa in March 2023 which ended in a draw 1-1. On the other hand, U.A.E last played in the ACC Men’s Premier Cup 2023 where they ended as runner-ups losing to Nepal in the final by 7 wickets.

“This is our first ever bilateral tour against the UAE and we are pleased to have agreed this historic three-match ODI series as it will provide a good opportunity for our players to get some preparation ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier. It will also allow those players not going to Zimbabwe to get some valuable experience at the international level in foreign conditions, which would be hugely beneficial to their growth and development. We are happy to work closely with the ECB to arrange the three matches and we see this as a partnership which can grow in the future,” said Jimmy Adams, Director of Cricket for Cricket West Indies.

“We are delighted to host a former World Champion side like the West Indies ahead of the qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe. In recent months, our team has produced some sensational performances in the ODI format which have helped raise UAE cricket’s profile. Our qualification for the tournament in Zimbabwe exemplifies our recent achievements. We want to ensure we provide the best possible preparation to our team and this series will most certainly help in achieving the goal. We look forward to welcoming the West Indian team. We want to thank Cricket West Indies for their continuous support towards cricket development in the UAE,” said Mubashshir Usmani General Secretary of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB).

Ten teams to contest in Cricket World Cup Qualifier for remaining two spots for ODI World Cup 2023

Meanwhile, the Cricket World Cup qualifier will feature the remaining five teams from Cricket World Cup Super League table and not the top eight who’ve directly qualified for the marquee tournament. The qualifiers will also feature the top three teams from the 2019–23 World Cup League 2, and the top two teams from the 2023 World Cup Qualifier playoff.

The ten teams contesting in the tournament are Ireland, the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Nepal, Oman, Scotland, the U.A.E and the United States.