Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Cricket has been caught up in rising tensions in the Middle East, leaving players from both England and Pakistan stuck in Dubai.England Lions were in the UAE to play Pakistan Shaheens, but everything changed after Iran carried out missile and drone strikes in the region.
As a result, the UAE closed its airspace, grounding flights and cancelling Sunday’s match. Among those stranded are Jonny Bairstow, former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, and 24 other players and staff members.With flights suspended, the team has been 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 spokesperson said, “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.”“We will continue to monitor and assess the situation and official advice in relation to the future of these trips,” the spokesperson told BBC.Bairstow also shared his frustration publicly. Posting on X, he wrote, “@emirates we haven’t had any communication post flight getting cancelled. Tried the lines of communication but nothing. Could someone please be in contact.”It’s not just the men’s ‘A’ teams affected. England’s women’s side had plans for a training camp in Dubai, which will now not go ahead. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is also staying in touch with the Shaheens and keeping a close watch on developments. For now, there’s no clear timeline on when UAE airspace will reopen, leaving both teams waiting for updates.
