Ex-England cricketer still stranded in Dubai with his young family

2 Mar 2026 • 10:25 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Ex-England cricketer Jonny Bairstow and his young family are currently stranded in Dubai due to escalating tensions in the Middle East and subsequent flight cancellations.
  • Bairstow appealed to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and airline Emirates over the weekend, seeking assistance to return home.
  • He clarified that he is in Dubai with his family, not with the England Lions squad, which was on tour in Abu Dhabi.
  • His situation reflects that of over 100,000 other Britons registered in the Middle East who may require evacuation due to airspace closures.
  • The wider cricketing world has also been affected, with an England Lions tour match cancelled and the England Women’s proposed trip to Abu Dhabi delayed, though England's T20 World Cup plans remain on track.

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