The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has canceled England Lions’ scheduled second match against Pakistan Shaheens in Abu Dhabi due to escalating security concerns in the Middle East.
The decision came Saturday night after the United States and Israel launched what they described as a “preemptive” strike against Iran, targeting sites linked to Tehran’s alleged nuclear weapons program. Iran responded with retaliatory missile strikes, with reports suggesting targets in Israel and other parts of the region had been hit, prompting heightened security alarms across the Middle East.
In light of the development, the ECB has confirmed that the match, which was due to be played at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, will no longer take place following official government recommendations.
“The safety and security of our teams and staff is our highest priority,” the ECB said in a statement. “We are in contact with security experts and the government regarding current events in the Middle East and are following official advice.
“Tomorrow’s second 50-over-50 match between England Men’s Lions and Pakistan Shaheens in Abu Dhabi will no longer go ahead and we are postponing England Women’s departure for their proposed trip to Abu Dhabi next week.
“We will continue to monitor and assess the situation and official advice regarding the future of these routes.”
The cancellation will also affect England Women’s planned tour of Abu Dhabi, with their travel arrangements now delayed as the board assesses the evolving security situation.
However, the ECB clarified that the England men’s senior team will continue with their existing plans and travel to Mumbai for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semi-finals as scheduled.
The situation remains volatile, with sports bodies across the region closely monitoring geopolitical developments before confirming further matches.
– The end
Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
01 March 2026 10:46 IST
