In cricket, the remainder of the England Lions’ tour of the UAE has been cancelled.
The Lions – England’s development team led by coach Andrew Flintoff and Test captain Ben Stokes and consisting of about 30 players and staff – travelled to the UAE for matches against Pakistan Shaheens.
The second of those matches, due to take place in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, had already been cancelled, with the rest of the fixtures now following suit.
The Lions are due to be in the UAE until Tuesday, 10 March, which is when they have flights booked for.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said it is “working to get everyone home as soon as possible”.
England women’s one-month training camp in Abu Dhabi, which they were due to leave for this week, has also been cancelled.
The ECB added it is working on “alternative options” that will “achieve the same outcomes” as England prepare for the Women’s T20 World Cup on home soil, which starts in June.
England star Jonny Bairstow, who is in Abu Dhabi but not with the Lions, replied to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s statement on Iran on X: “Can you get us home?”
At the T20 World Cup, West Indies are unable to return home from India after their exit on Sunday and remain in Kolkata.
Zimbabwe have also had to stay in India, having been scheduled to travel home via Dubai.
Zimbabwe Cricket and Cricket West Indies have each said their players and staff are “safe and well” and both boards are working with the International Cricket Council to sort alternative travel arrangements.