YORKSHIRE will face Papua New Guinea, Lancashire and the UAE Blues on their pre-season tour of Dubai later this month.

The White Rose county are taking a squad of 19 to the Gulf, where they will play ICC Associate nation PNG and Lancashire in two-day matches and PNG and the UAE Blues in one-dayers.

A group of six bowlers will head out three days earlier than the rest of the squad, who fly on March 19.

They will all return to Headingley two days before the season opener, a home three-day friendly with Leeds/Bradford MCC Universities on April 2.

Alex Lees has been named in the squad, although he is only likely to be available for the final one-day match against the UAE on March 30 due to his involvement in the MCC champion county fixture.

Liam Plunkett will also play for the MCC, but he has not been named in Yorkshire’s party.

Jonny Bairstow, Adil Rashid and Joe Root will all miss the trip after England duties.

Yorkshire director of cricket Martyn Moxon said: “When we start the season on April 2, the chances of having any outdoor match practice here before then is highly unlikely. So the trip to Dubai is key to finalising our winter preparation.

“At this stage it’s about providing the best standard of preparation and therefore improving the team’s chances of being successful.

“The facilities are excellent. The practice facilities and pitches are all very good, and we’re looked after very well out there.

“Everything is in place for a really good period.

“We are sending the fast bowlers out a bit earlier than the rest of the group just to make sure they hit the ground running when the main party arrives.

“It’s all set up for a good period of practice, and then we can start the season on a high against Leeds Bradford University.”

Yorkshire v PNG, Mar 22-23, Dubai Sevens

Yorkshire v Lancashire, Mar 26-27, Dubai ICC Global Academy

Yorkshire v PNG, Mar 29, Dubai Sevens

Yorkshire v UAE Blues, Mar 31, Dubai Sevens

Yorkshire squad: Ballance c, Bresnan, Brooks, Coad, Callis, Carver, Fisher, Hodd w, Leaning, Lees, Lyth, Patterson, Rafiq, Read w, Rhodes, Shaw, Sidebottom, Wainman, Waite.