England will play two Twenty20 Internationals against Pakistan in Dubai next month ahead of their tour to Bangladesh.

This has been confirmed by the England and Wales Cricket Board on Friday.

The games, which will take place at Dubai Sports City, provide an extra chance for England's limited-overs team to gel ahead of the next World Twenty20 in the West Indies in April.

England will now arrive in Dubai on February 14 for their matches against the current Twenty20 world champions before flying to Bangladesh on February 21.

Once there they will play two one-day warm-ups, three one-day internationals, a three-day practice match and two Tests.

England Lions are also set for a busy time.

They will arrive in Dubai on February 7 before playing Andy Flower's senior side in a Twenty20 warm-up in Abu Dhabi on February 17.

After that the second string will remain in the UAE, where they will play three Twenty20 matches against Pakistan A followed by three 50-over games against the same opposition.

England have long been expected to rest some senior players - potentially including Test and ODI captain Andrew Strauss - for the Bangladesh trip.

The fact that the tour starts with a Twenty20 leg, a form of the game no longer played by Strauss, may lessen his chances of appearing.

In those circumstances, current vice-captain Alastair Cook would be favourite to inherit the Test leadership.

Announcing the revised itinerary, managing director of England Cricket Hugh Morris said: "We are delighted to have agreed, in partnership with Pakistan Cricket Board and Dubai Sports City, for such a comprehensive programme of cricket in the UAE for both England and England Lions.

"The two T20 Internationals against the current world champions in this format of the game will be an exciting challenge for the England team and provide important additional T20 international experience before the next ICC WT20 tournament in the Caribbean in April."

Morris was also keen to talk up the benefits of the Lions programme, adding: "The combination of three T20 matches and three 50-over matches for the England Lions team to be played at Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi will also provide those players with an excellent opportunity to push their case for selection for the England one-day side as we continue to build, not only for the World T20 in West Indies later this year, but also for the ICC World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh."

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