Durham, Yorkshire, and Glamorgan have cancelled their pre-season Middle East tours amid rising tensions in the Gulf region.
Yorkshire and Durham had planned trips to the United Arab Emirates, while Glamorgan was set to travel to Oman. The cancellations come after US and Israeli strikes on Iran, with retaliatory attacks on US-allied states in the region.
Durham’s men’s squad was scheduled to leave for Abu Dhabi next Monday, with the women’s team set to depart two weeks later on 23 March. Yorkshire will now head to Spain for a training camp instead of traveling to the UAE.
Durham director of cricket Marcus North said:
“The safety and wellbeing of our players and staff is always our absolute priority. We have monitored the situation closely alongside the relevant authorities and believe this is the right decision.”
Durham plans to make alternative arrangements to ensure the squad is fully prepared for the start of the season on 3 April. Further updates on the women’s tour will be provided in due course.
Glamorgan had planned matches against Worcestershire and Oman as part of their warm-weather preparation. Chief executive Dan Cherry said:
“Our thoughts are with those affected in the region. The safety and wellbeing of our players and staff is our utmost priority. We are working on alternative plans abroad and in the UK to prepare for the 2026 season, and details will follow soon.”
All three counties emphasized that player safety and careful monitoring of the situation guided their decisions.
