CRICKET: Captain Bell and Bears off to Dubai

New club captain Ian Bell is looking forward to taking his Warwickshire team on a two-week pre-season tour to the United Arab Emirates.

Their schedule will see the Bears take on the 2012 ICC World T20 champions, West Indies who are based in Dubai for a training camp ahead of the ICC World T20 in India, in late-March.

The games will be at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday, March 4 and Sunday, March 6.

The Bears will also play two two-day matches at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium against a UAE XI and an internal fixture involving all members of the playing squad. In-between, the squad will train at the ICC Academy.

Former Princethorpe College student Bell, from Dunchurch, who was appointed captain last month said: “West Indies are amongst the tournament favourites for the upcoming ICC World T20 and there will be no better early-season preparation for the NatWest T20 Blast than facing their many world class players.

“I’ve spent a good amount of time training at the ICC Academy, on previous international tours, and it’s one of the best facilities of its kind.

“Having the full playing squad based here for a two-week pre-season camp will be the ideal way to prepare for our 2016 campaign.”