LAHORE: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have confirmed that the ongoing series between the Pakistan Shaheens and England Lions in Abu Dhabi has been called off due to escalating security developments in the Middle East.
The decision was reached after consultations between the ECB and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), with both boards agreeing that the safety and wellbeing of players and support staff must remain the highest priority. The series, which comprised three T20 matches and five 50-over matches, will not resume, and no further play will take place in Abu Dhabi.
The PCB emphasized its commitment to player safety, stating that it remains in constant contact with team management and players to ensure appropriate measures are in place for their safe return to Pakistan.
“The safety, security and wellbeing of the players and support staff remain the highest priority,” the PCB reiterated in its communication. The cancellation halts what was intended to be a competitive development series between Pakistan’s Shaheens (the national ‘A’ side) and England’s Lions. For Pakistan, the matches were seen as an opportunity to test emerging talent in international conditions, while England had hoped to provide exposure to their next generation of cricketers.
