The situation in the Middle East seems to be a delicate one, and cricket & cricketers seem to be affected by it as well. As per various reports, the England Lions teams are stuck in the UAE, following Iran’s missile and drone strike on Saturday. The list of players include former all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, Jonny Bairstow, and 24 others.
Jonny Bairstow s& team stranded in Dubai
The England Lions were due to play Pakistan Shaheens in Dubai on Sunday, but the match has of course been cancelled. UAE’s airspace is closed for now, which just adds to the trouble for the Lions. The ECB, though have stated that they are in touch with the Emirati authorities, to get the players out safely.
“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,” an ECB spokesperson said. “We will continue to monitor and assess the situation and official advice in relation to the future of these trips,” as per BBC.
Pakistan Shaheens vs England Lions cancelled
Bairstow took to X. and described the entire situation as well. “@emirates we haven’t had any communication post flight getting cancelled. Tried the lines of communication but nothing. Could someone please be in contact.” Not just that, it seems the English women’s side were also scheduled to reach Dubai for a training camp, which won’t happen now.
The PCB is also in touch with the Shaheens, and are monitoring the situation in the UAE. So far there is no clarity as to when the UAE airspace will be open again.
Cricket
IPL 2026 faces new challenge as overseas players remain uncertain due to Middle East tensions
