Uae (uae) security: ECB cancel England Lions fixture amid escalating situation
The ECB say they are in contact with the UK Government and security officials after the United States' military strikes on Iran, and have said the safety of players and staff in the Middle East, including the England Lions Men's squad in Abu Dhabi, is their "top priority". The Lions' second scheduled match in Abu Dhabi has been cancelled and the touring party cannot leave the region because the UAE's airspace is closed.
Immediate cancellations and postponements
The ECB confirmed that the second of five 50-over games between England Men's Lions and Pakistan Shaheens in Abu Dhabi will not go ahead. The match had been described in one part of the record as due on Tuesday and elsewhere as due on Sunday; unclear in the provided context which day applied. England Women's training camp due to begin in Abu Dhabi next week has been postponed.
Uae travel disruption
A 25-player Lions party, coached by Andrew Flintoff, travelled to Abu Dhabi but has been unable to leave the region because the UAE's airspace is closed. A number of airlines have cancelled flights in the region, further restricting departures. The ECB said it was delaying the departure of England Women for their proposed trip to Abu Dhabi next week.
Sequence of strikes and regional fallout
The situation followed United States' military strikes on Iran. Iran launched counter-strikes across the region in response, including on the Palm Jumeirah resort in Dubai. It is recorded that after the US and Israel launched a large-scale attack on Saturday, Iran began retaliatory strikes targeting Israel and other sites in the Middle East. Separate notes in the material reference the Supreme Leader's compound being hit; unclear in the provided context how these items relate beyond the sequence stated.
Security contacts and official advice
An ECB spokesperson said: "The safety and security of our teams and staff is our top priority. We are in contact with security experts and the Government in relation to current events in the Middle East, and are following official advice. " The board added it would continue to monitor and assess the situation and official advice in relation to the future of these trips.
ICC and wider tournament logistics
The ICC confirmed it is monitoring the "evolving situation" and had "activated contingency plans" to "safeguard the travel, logistics and well-being of all stakeholders" at the T20 World Cup. The tournament is being held in India and Sri Lanka, and teams, including England, are scheduled to fly through the Middle East at the end of the competition. One element of the record says England's T20I squad, who are due to play in the T20 World Cup semi-final on Thursday, have been cleared to travel to Mumbai as scheduled. Another element states the England men's T20 World Cup team will fly from Sri Lanka to Mumbai on Sunday as planned; unclear in the provided context which travel plan applied to which day. The note also records that the West Indies are scheduled to fly through Dubai's airport on Monday should they be eliminated on Sunday.
Government advisories and public warnings
The UK Foreign Office has urged British nationals in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE to immediately shelter in place following reports of explosions. The ECB said it was in contact with security experts and the Government and was following official advice as it assessed the future of the touring parties and scheduled trips.
All parties involved — the England Lions, the 25-player touring party coached by Andrew Flintoff, England Women, England's T20I squad, the Pakistan Shaheens, and tournament organisers — remain subject to continued monitoring and assessment as officials respond to the evolving regional security situation.
