ECB cancels Lions match as security situation escalates in Uae
The England and Wales Cricket Board has cancelled the England Lions' next 50-over fixture in Abu Dhabi and postponed the England Women's training camp after strikes across the Middle East closed the region's airspace, leaving the 25-player Lions party unable to leave the uae.
Match in Abu Dhabi called off after regional strikes
The second of five 50-over games between England Men's Lions and the Pakistan Shaheens in Abu Dhabi will not go ahead, the ECB said, after Iranian counter-strikes across the region including damage reported at the Palm Jumeirah resort in Dubai; one report in the context named the match as due on Tuesday while another named Sunday, an explicit discrepancy in the provided accounts.
Lions party stuck in Abu Dhabi, coach Andrew Flintoff with 25 players
The touring party of 25 players and coaches, led by coach Andrew Flintoff, travelled to Abu Dhabi but has been unable to depart because uae airspace is closed and a number of airlines have cancelled flights in the region.
England Women’s trip postponed and training camp delayed
England Women’s planned travel to Abu Dhabi has been pushed back: one account said the training camp due to get underway in Abu Dhabi next week has been postponed, while another stated the women were scheduled to fly to Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and that that trip has been postponed.
England Men cleared to travel for T20 World Cup semi-final in Mumbai
The ECB said England's T20I squad, who are due to play in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup semi-final in Mumbai, have been cleared to travel from Sri Lanka to Mumbai as scheduled, and that the safety and security of teams and staff is the organisation's "top priority. " The ICC has said it is monitoring the evolving situation and has activated contingency plans to safeguard travel and logistics for the tournament, which is being held in India and Sri Lanka.
Foreign Office warning and wider travel disruption across the region
The UK Foreign Office urged British nationals in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE to shelter in place following reports of explosions. The context also noted that teams at the end of the T20 World Cup are scheduled to transit through the Middle East, and that the West Indies team would be due to fly through Dubai's airport on Monday should they be eliminated on Sunday.
The ECB said it is in contact with security experts and the UK Government and is following official advice; it added that it will continue to monitor and assess the situation in relation to the future of the trips. England Men are slated to travel to Mumbai for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup semi-final as planned.
