The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has canceled the England Lions’ ongoing tour of the UAE following Iran’s unexpected and aggressive retaliation in the region. The decision comes in the wake of Iranian missile and drone strikes targeting multiple locations across the Gulf countries, particularly UAE, with Dubai being hit particularly hard, along with Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, and Jebel Ali port.
An ECB statement said: “The remainder of the England Men’s Lions’ tour has been cancelled, and we are working to get everyone home as soon as possible.
“We have ruled out the possibility of England Women’s T20 World Cup camp taking place in Abu Dhabi given the instability across the Gulf.
“Over the weekend we started work on alternative options that will enable England Women to achieve the same outcomes, and we’ll keep you informed as soon as we finalise a new plan.”
Amid travel chaos due to the conflict and the closure of airspace in West Asia, the ECB is working to repatriate its personnel from Abu Dhabi. Thousands of flights have been disrupted, affecting teams such as Zimbabwe, which faced delays in leaving India after their participation in the Men’s T20 World Cup. The West Indies players were also stranded after their final match.
