England cricketer Jonathan Bairstow (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
New Delhi: Cricket has been suspended amid rising tensions in the Middle East, leaving players from England and Pakistan stranded in Dubai.The England Lions were in the UAE to play Pakistani side Shaheen, but everything changed after Iran carried out missile and drone strikes in the region.
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As a result, the UAE closed its airspace, halted flights and canceled Sunday’s match. Those stranded include Jonny Bairstow, former England player Andrew Flintoff, and 24 other players and crew.With flights suspended, the team was unable to leave Dubai. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) says it is working to make sure everyone stays safe and can return home when possible. An ECB spokesman said: “The safety and security of our teams and staff is our top priority.
“We are in contact with security experts and the government regarding current events in the Middle East, and are following official advice.”“We will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation and provide official advice in relation to the matter
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The spokesman told the BBC: “From these trips.”Bairstow also shared his frustration publicly. He wrote on X: “@emirates we have not received any communications after the flight was cancelled.
I tried calling lines but nothing. Can someone be in touch. “It’s not just the men’s A teams. The England women’s national team had plans to hold a training camp in Dubai, which will now not go ahead. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also remains in touch with Shaheen’s family and is closely monitoring developments. Currently, there is no clear timeline on when UAE airspace will reopen, leaving both teams waiting for updates.