Durham have canceled their pre-season tour of Abu Dhabi as the Gulf conflict escalates.
The United States and Israel began launching attacks on Iran on Saturday, and Iran responded with attacks on U.S. allies in the region.
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The Durham men’s team were due to travel to the United Arab Emirates next Monday, with the women’s team departing two weeks later on March 23.
Director of Cricket Marcus North said: “The safety and wellbeing of our players and staff is always our absolute priority.”
“We have been closely monitoring the situation with the relevant authorities and after careful consideration we believe this is the right decision.”
North added that Durham will now look to develop alternative plans “to ensure the squad is fully prepared for the start of the season”.
The first round of the 2026 County Championship season begins on Friday 3 April.
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“We will make further announcements regarding the scheduled women’s tour in due course. We will continue to evaluate all information at our disposal and make decisions based on the best interests of everyone involved,” North added.
“Our thoughts are with all those affected by the conflict in the region at this difficult time.”
