Supporters invited on Derbyshire’s pre-season tour to Abu Dhabi

The club are returning to the United Arab Emirates capital for a third successive year as part of a tour sponsored by Briggs of Burton. And fans can make the trip too as part of an official excursion in partnership with Sport Arabia Worldwide and Etihad Airways.

The squad will fly to Abu Dhabi on Monday, March 7 and will spend ten days based at the state-of-the-art Test venue, the Sheikh Zayed Stadium complex, before returning on Thursday, March 17.

Derbyshire will compete in both red-ball and white-ball games against first-class opposition, with the city promising to provide a warm-weather backdrop for the county’s pre-season preparations ahead of the 2016 campaign.

The club’s elite performance director, Graeme Welch, said: “We’ve had two great trips to Abu Dhabi, and we are happy to be returning for a third year.

“After a busy winter at Derby, it will again be an opportunity for the lads train outside at a Test venue and play competitive cricket before the season begins.

“It’s important that we start the new campaign well, and this tour will provide us with the best preparation to do this. From the point of view of the spectators, it is a wonderful place to visit and we hope people can come along and support us.”

Prices for the trip for supporters are from £1,295 per person, based on a twin share. Single supplements are £325 per person.