England remain in India after T20 World Cup exit due to Middle East conflict
Players and support staff would ordinarily have been expected to fly home on Friday.
England’s men’s cricket team are in travel limbo due to the Middle East conflict and will not leave India until Saturday at the earliest.
Players and support staff would ordinarily have been expected to fly home on Friday following Thursday’s agonising seven-run defeat to the hosts in Mumbai in the T20 World Cup semi-finals.
However, the escalating conflict sparked by American and Israeli air strikes on Iran has limited their options, and it is understood they are working with the International Cricket Council (ICC) to secure a charter to the UK.
England are understood to be relaxed about the situation and could head out to London on Saturday or Sunday alongside fellow beaten semi-finalists South Africa, plus the West Indies, who have been stuck in India since bowing out of the tournament last Sunday.
England’s Indian Premier League contingent – such as Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell, Phil Salt and Jofra Archer – are expected to travel with the team despite many having to return to India in just over a week’s time for the competition, which starts on March 28.
Meanwhile, England’s women’s cricket team have relocated their warm-weather training camp to South Africa after the conflict forced the cancellation of their scheduled trip to Abu Dhabi.
Two squads of 15 – named after English greats Jan Brittin and Rachael Heyhoe Flint – will make the trip, combining established squad members, peripheral players and eight uncapped prospects pushing for selection.
Lancashire’s men’s and women’s sides, as well as Nottinghamshire’s women’s team, the Blaze, have become the latest domestic teams to cancel their pre-season trips to the UAE.
Nottinghamshire’s men have also booked Pretoria as an alternative venue for their training camp, while Lancashire’s men and women will head to Spain and South Africa respectively.
Iran has called for the United States and Israel to be investigated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for alleged breaches of the Olympic Truce, according to a report from Iranian news agency Tasnim.
The IOC has been contacted for comment. On Thursday, US President Donald Trump spoke about the Iran conflict at a White House reception for MLS Cup holders Inter Miami, and told their star player Lionel Messi he was “better than Pele”.
Iran’s sole competitor at the Winter Paralympics has been forced to withdraw due to being unable to travel safely to Italy for the Games.
Cross-country skier Aboulfazl Khatibi Mianaei was due to compete in two events but the International Paralympic Committee confirmed the conflict had made travel too difficult. It means the Iranian flag has been removed from the athlete’s parade for Friday’s opening ceremony.
UK Athletics announced it would not be sending a team to the upcoming European Throwing Cup in Nicosia, Cyprus, which is taking place on March 14 and 15.
World Cup-winning England duo Ellie Kildunne and Sadia Kabeya will miss Premiership Women’s Rugby this weekend because they are stuck in Dubai.
The pair had travelled to the United Arab Emirates in a break in the PWR schedule. The Rugby Football Union said both players had registered their presence with the UK Government to receive official updates and guidance.
