ECB cancels England Lions match in Abu Dhabi amid Iran strikes

The England and Wales Cricket Board cancelled a 50-over match between the England Lions and Pakistan Shaheens scheduled for Sunday in Abu Dhabi after US and Israeli military strikes on Iran triggered retaliatory Iranian attacks across the Middle East, including in the United Arab Emirates.reuters+1

The cancellation came as loud explosions were reported across the Gulf region, with Iranian counter-strikes hitting targets including the Palm Jumeirah resort in Dubai. The UAE temporarily and partially closed its airspace as a precautionary measure, grounding flights and stranding travelers.espn+2

ECB Prioritizes Safety

"The safety and security of our teams and staff is our top priority," the ECB said in a statement posted Saturday. "We are in contact with security experts and the Government in relation to current events in the Middle East, and are following official advice."ecb+1

The Lions squad, currently in Abu Dhabi, had been playing a three-match 50-over series against the Pakistan Shaheens. The ECB also postponed the departure of the England Women's team for a training camp that had been due to begin in Abu Dhabi next week.espn+1

England's men's T20 World Cup squad, however, will proceed with travel from Sri Lanka to Mumbai for their semi-final on Thursday, the ECB confirmed.reuters+1

Travel Chaos Across the Region

Emirates, Dubai's primary long-haul airline, suspended all flight operations citing "multiple regional airspace closures". Qatar, Oman, Iraq, and Kuwait also imposed airspace restrictions, effectively grounding carriers including Qatar Airways across the Persian Gulf.Bloomberg+2

The International Cricket Council, headquartered in Dubai, said it had activated contingency measures for staff transiting through the emirate, and encouraged fans who had traveled to the region to follow local advisories and "carefully consider all factors before proceeding with any further international travel".reuters

Wider Sporting Disruption

The cancellation is part of a broader wave of sporting disruption caused by the escalating conflict. FIFA said it is focused on ensuring "everybody participating" in this summer's World Cup proceeds as planned, following the American military action against Iran. The crisis has left athletes and sporting officials across multiple disciplines stranded or scrambling for alternative travel arrangements, with the ICC working on backup flight plans for players and officials returning from the T20 World Cup.nytimes+1