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The England Lions squad, coached by Andrew Flintoff and Jonny Bairstow is currently in Abu Dhabi where they are taking on Pakistan Shaheens on limited overs tour. But, England Lions' tour is likely to be cut short due to Iran's missile strikes in the UAE which is one of the targets in the Middle East. While the ECB has released a statement, making players' safety their 'top priority', Bairstow took to social media and replied to a statement video of United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Iran.
“Can you get us home?” asked Bairstow.
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What did ECB say?
The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is currently monitoring the situation in middle east and is in contact with security experts to safeguard their players.
"The safety and security of our teams and staff is our top priority,” the ECB said in a statement.
ALSO READ: ICC rolls out contingency plans for T20 World Cup 2026 amidst Iran-US War
"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 current touring party comprises of 25 players and coaches. They are stranded in UAE as the airspace is closed due to military strikes. Not just UAE, but Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait's airspaces have been closed as well. There was also a drone strike at Dubai airport where India's two-time Olympics medallist PV Sindhu is stranded.
Meanwhile, England women were scheduled to touch down in Abu Dhabi on March 4 for a training camp but it has now been postponed.
England Lions unbeaten vs Pakistan Shaheens
England Lions led by Jordan Cox registered a 3-0 whitewash in the T20 series that took place from February 20 to 24 at Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Stadium. A day before the missile strikes, Dan Mousley-led England Lions started the five-One-Day series with a comfortable nine-wicket victory. The two teams were scheduled to lock horns on March 1 but the game has been cancelled considering the current situation.
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