England cricketer Jonny Bairstow takes to Instagram to request urgent intel from Dubai as the England Lions match is cancelled and the England Women's trip is delayed due to the US-Iran war and UAE attacks.
Jonny Bairstow Stranded in Dubai: England Legend Pleads For Help Amid Escalating Middle East Crisis (Image Source: X)
After a series of escalating retaliatory missile and drone strikes across the Middle East and the US-Iran war, the UAE airspace has been closed, leaving 25 members of the England contingent, including coaches and players like Bairstow, unable to return home. Bairstow, who is working as a coach with the Lions, posted an urgent call for help on social media after phone calls to the airlines went unanswered.
Besides sports, the focus of the news now is on the rescue of the stranded team after the reports of the explosions near the major landmarks in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Jonny Bairstow didn’t hold back on Instagram. His posts cut straight to the point, showing just how rough things had gotten for the England squad. “If anyone has any intel in Dubai, please reach out. Keep safe,” he wrote—short, but you could feel the weight behind it. With flights at Dubai International Airport thrown into chaos by the regional conflict, people stuck there weren’t getting much information at all.
Jonny Bairstow stranded in UAE #dubaiattack #WorldWar3 pic.twitter.com/TcqXa1s26A
— Aviral Shukla (@Aviralcric) March 1, 2026
Not long after, Bairstow ramped things up. He tagged Sir Keir Starmer and the British Embassy in the UAE in another story, repeating his call for help: “If anyone has any intel in Dubai, please reach out... Stay safe... @britishembassyuae @keirstarmer.” By calling out the Prime Minister and embassy officials, he made it clear just how frustrated the 25-member Lions party felt.
The ongoing US-Iran war situation led to the England Lions tour being effectively cancelled. The ECB revealed on Saturday night that, after receiving the official Government advice, the intended 50-over match with the Pakistan Shaheens at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi was going to be called off.
The move came after the news that sounds of explosions had been heard in the area, and a prompt consideration of the safety measures of all UK sports persons in the UAE was conducted.
