New Delhi, March 2 (NationPress) England cricketer Jonny Bairstow has expressed his deep concern for his family's safety after finding themselves stranded in Dubai amidst rising military tensions in the Middle East.

Commercial air travel from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been halted following missile and drone strikes launched by Iran, which are reportedly in response to joint operations by Israel and the US that led to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, last Saturday.

At the age of 36, Bairstow had traveled to Dubai for a family vacation and clarified on social media that he is not associated with the England Lions squad, as some had speculated. He voiced his worries about ensuring his loved ones' safety while trying to find a way back to the UK.

“To those suggesting that I’m with the England Lions team…I am not. I am with my young family in Dubai…while I’m sure the England Lions security personnel are doing everything possible to assist with their evacuation from Abu Dhabi, my priority is keeping my family secure and getting us out of this situation!” he posted on X on Monday.

On the previous day, Bairstow publicly reached out to Emirates Airlines following the cancellation of his scheduled flight. “We haven’t received any communication since our flight was cancelled. I tried to get in touch, but there has been no response. Could someone please reach out to us?” he wrote.

He also directly challenged UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, reacting to the government’s announcement regarding the ongoing crisis, stating, “Can you facilitate our return home???”

On Saturday, the UK's Foreign Office updated its travel advice for the UAE due to deteriorating security conditions, advising British nationals in the region to seek immediate shelter. The advisory urges individuals to stay indoors in a secure location, refrain from traveling, and adhere to local authorities' directives.

Regional instability has impacted England's cricket calendar as well. The England Lions cancelled their 50-over match against the Pakistan Shaheens in Abu Dhabi scheduled for Sunday. Additionally, the England Women’s team postponed their departure for a training camp in the Emirates, while the England men’s team is closely monitoring the situation before returning from the T20 World Cup in India, which was meant to transit through Dubai.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the England and Wales Cricket Board emphasized, “The safety and security of our teams and staff is our utmost priority. We are in contact with security experts and the Government regarding the current developments in the Middle East and are adhering to official guidelines.

“The upcoming second 50-over match between the England Men’s Lions and Pakistan Shaheens in Abu Dhabi will no longer take place, and we are postponing the England Women’s team's planned trip to Abu Dhabi next week.”