Lancashire have revealed their plans for a pre-season tour to Dubai, which will include an early Roses clash as they face Yorkshire in the Emirates Airline T20 Cup.
The Red Rose county have been drawn against their fierce rivals in the competition on Friday 20 March, and could go on to face either Sussex or an MCC XI featuring Alastair Cook in the final.
The trip to Dubai will be followed by a tour of Sri Lanka between March 21 and April 1, where they will warm up for the domestic season with two red-ball matches and a 50-over game.
Director of cricket Ashley Giles, who awaits his first season in charge after being appointed in October, said: “Playing abroad in warm and good weather at this time of year is ideal preparation for the ardours of a tough domestic campaign.
“Equally, playing against quality opposition is key and I’m sure the lads will be looking forward to their first taste of Roses cricket this year against Yorkshire before we take them on in the NatWest T20 Blast later in the year!
“It would be good to see some of our supporters over there out-singing our rivals and I would urge you to join us and get booked up as I hear there’s loads of Yorkies already signed up!”
Lancashire have announced a 14-man squad to travel to the United Arab Emirates, although Ashwell Prince, Luke Procter, George Edwards, Gavin Griffiths and Toby Lester will join up with the rest of the players as they reach Sri Lanka.
Squad for Dubai: Tom Smith (captain), Tom Bailey, Karl Brown, Nathan Buck, Jordan Clark, Steven Croft, Alex Davies, Paul Horton, Kyle Jarvis, Simon Kerrigan, Arron Lilley, Liam Livingstone, Stephen Parry, Luis Reece.