Dublin, Mar 10 (IANS): Ireland and Bangladesh will be playing a four-match T20I series in England in May. The venue has been chosen due to excessive demand on home pitches.

Warren Deutrom, chief executive of Cricket Ireland, explained the thinking behind the decision.

"2020 is one of Ireland's biggest home seasons with three major nations touring and 15 matches to host," he said in a statement. "Consequently, it has been our most complex match allocation process ever, given the multiple challenges we are working through.

With the loss of Clontarf as a home venue, Cricket Ireland has just 12 pitches available across the three remaining international grounds that need to cater for 15 matches.

As a result, the board required alternative solutions to be developed to ensure Ireland could fulfil our Future Tour Programme hosting obligations, and additionally accommodate a window to host the Euro T20 Slam in Dublin, should that proceed.

Tom Harrison, Chief Executive Officer of the ECB, said: "We are passionate about helping to protect and grow the game across the world and we are delighted to be able to support Cricket Ireland by hosting this series."

"We can't wait to welcome both Ireland and Bangladesh as part of what promises to be an incredibly exciting summer of cricket,a he added.

The series will begin at The Oval on May 22 and the teams will then travel to Chelmsford and Bristol before finishing up at Edgbaston a week later on May 29.

Before the T20Is, the two sides will face each other in a three-match ODI series in Belfast.