ECB cancels England Lions tour, England Women’s training camp in UAE amid escalating security situation

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has cancelled the Lions’ ongoing series against Pakistan Shaheens in the UAE in the wake of the US-Israeli air strike on Iran and the rising military action in the Gulf region.

The ECB is understood to be monitoring the situation closely as it explores ways to bring back the players and support staff to the UK amid the closure of airspaces.

The Lions were involved in a five-match one-day series, with only the first game being successfully completed. The second encounter was called off, and the remaining three have been cancelled altogether.

England Women were also scheduled to attend a training camp in Abu Dhabi as part of their preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the UK, which is set to take place in June-July. The current situation has led to its cancellation, with the ECB exploring alternative options.

“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,” the ECB said in a statement.

“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,” it added.

The Lions and England women’s team are not the only affected teams, as the airspace clusre over several West Asian nations has led to the cancellations or rerouting of several flights, disrupting travel to the region.

Zimbabwe became the first team at the T20 World Cup 2026 to be affected by the state of affairs as they are stranded in India, despite being eliminated from the tournament. Additionally, West Indies team has also had to reschedule the departure due to “security threats posed by military action in the Gulf region”.

“CWI is working closely with the ICC, relevant governmental authorities and airline partners to secure the earliest possible safe travel arrangements for the squad and support staff,” the CWI said in a release.

“The safety and well-being of our players, coaches, and officials remain our highest priority. The team is currently accommodated in India and remains safe and well. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide further updates as confirmed travel arrangements are finalised.”