Jonny Bairstow has issued an urgent plea for assistance after becoming stranded in the United Arab Emirates with the England Lions squad as military conflict engulfs the Middle East.
The former England wicketkeeper, currently serving as a coach under Andrew Flintoff on the Lions tour, reached out via social media on Sunday morning seeking information about the deteriorating situation.
"If anyone has any intel in Dubai please reach out. Keep safe," he posted initially.
Bairstow subsequently directed his appeal towards the highest levels of government, tagging both Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the British Embassy in the UAE.
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"If anyone has any intel in Dubai please reach out... Stay safe... @britishembassyuae @keirstarmer," he wrote.
The touring party comprises 25 individuals, including both players and coaching staff.
The crisis erupted after US and Israeli forces launched what they termed a "pre-emptive" strike against Iran on Saturday morning, targeting what they claimed was Tehran's nuclear weapons programme.
Jonny Bairstow has issued an urgent plea for assistance after becoming stranded in the United Arab Emirates with the England Lions squad as military conflict engulfs the Middle East
|PA
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the joint military operation.
Iran responded with retaliatory missile attacks directed at Israel and multiple nations across the Middle East region.
Loud explosions were reported near Dubai and over Doha as Iranian forces struck neighbouring Gulf states.
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Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the joint military operation
| GETTYIsrael announced a further wave of strikes against Iran on Sunday, with blasts continuing for a second consecutive day.
The escalating violence prompted the England Lions to abandon their scheduled second 50-over fixture against Pakistan Shaheens at Abu Dhabi's Zayed Cricket Stadium on Saturday evening, citing security concerns.
The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed the match cancellation on Saturday evening, acting on official Government guidance.
"The safety and security of our teams and staff is our top priority," the ECB stated.
The governing body said it was maintaining contact with security experts and Government officials regarding developments in the region and following official advice.
Beyond scrapping the Abu Dhabi fixture, the ECB announced that England Women's planned departure for their own trip to the UAE next week had been postponed.
Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest international hub, sustained damage during Iran's attacks and remained closed on Sunday morning, creating one of the most severe aviation disruptions in recent years
| GB NEWSThe board indicated it would continue monitoring the situation and official guidance to determine the future of both tours.
However, the England Men's senior squad will proceed with their scheduled journey to Mumbai for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup semi-final.
Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest international hub, sustained damage during Iran's attacks and remained closed on Sunday morning, creating one of the most severe aviation disruptions in recent years.
Airports in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait were also struck, with thousands of flights affected across the region according to flight-tracking platform FlightAware.
Airspace above Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel, Bahrain, the UAE and Qatar was virtually empty, as shown by Flightradar24 mapping data early on Sunday.
The flight-tracking service reported that a Notice to Airmen had extended Iranian airspace closure until at least 8.30am on Tuesday.
The UK Foreign Office has instructed British nationals in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE to shelter in place immediately following reports of explosions throughout the region.