The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Saturday that a Sunday match between the England Lions and Pakistan Shaheens in Abu Dhabi has been canceled due to strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel.
Iran reacted with a barrage of missiles, causing explosions throughout the Gulf, including in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. As a result, all flights were suspended at Dubai International Airport.
“The safety and security of our teams and staff is our top priority. Tomorrow’s second 50-over game between England Men’s Lions and Pakistan Shaheens in Abu Dhabi will no longer go ahead, and we are delaying the departure of England Women for their proposed trip to Abu Dhabi next week,” the ECB said in a statement.
According to the ECB, the England men’s squad, which is presently participating in the Twenty20 World Cup, will fly from Sri Lanka to Mumbai, which is almost 2,000 kilometers across the sea from Abu Dhabi, for the semi-final on Thursday.
Earlier, the International Cricket Council (ICC) which has its headquarters in Dubai, announced that it had triggered backup arrangements for its employees who were expected to pass through Dubai before continuing on to their home nations.
“We would also urge fans who have travelled … to monitor closely and adhere to advisories being issued and consider all factors before undertaking any further international travel,” an ICC spokesperson said in a statement.
Meanwhile, England cricketer Jonny Bairstow, who currently is in Abu Dhabi with the England Lions as a coach, appealed to the United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer to take the team back home.
As Starmer posted his declaration of the UK joining the war as an ally of the United States and Israel, Bairstow replied to the post on Sunday.
Bairstow posted: “Can you get us home???”
