ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – West Indies will clash with United Arab Emirates (UAE) next month in a three-match One-Day International series, which will serve as preparation for their campaign in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers.

The day-night series will run from June 5-9 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, with the qualifiers set to bowl off in Zimbabwe just over a week later.

“This is our first-ever bilateral tour against the UAE and we are pleased to have agreed to 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 Qualifiers,” said Cricket West Indies’ director of cricket, Jimmy Adams.

“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 (Emirates Cricket Board) to arrange the three matches and we see this as a partnership which can grow in the future,” Adams added.

West Indies are one of the highest-ranked sides featuring in the ICC qualifiers at ninth, while eighth-ranked Sri Lanka are also involved in the tournament, which will determine the two final spots for the World Cup showpiece in India in October.

The tour will mark only the second ODI series for West Indies this year, the first – a three-match series in South Africa last March – ending in a 1-1 draw.