Durham Cricket can confirm that the men’s pre-season tour of Abu Dhabi has been cancelled due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East.
The Club has remained in constant dialogue with relevant authorities and tour operators, and all parties have agreed that the appropriate course of action is not to travel to the United Arab Emirates at this time. The men’s squad had been scheduled to depart from Newcastle on Monday 9 March.
The Durham women’s squad is currently due to travel to the UAE on Monday 23 March. The Club will provide further updates in due course regarding their travel arrangements.
Marcus North, Director of Cricket, said:
“The safety and wellbeing of our players and staff is always our absolute priority.
We have been monitoring the situation closely alongside the relevant authorities and, after careful consideration, we believe this is the right decision.
While it’s disappointing not to travel, we are already working on alternative plans to ensure the squad is fully prepared for the start of the season.
We will make a further announcement in due course regarding our scheduled Women’s tour. We will continue to assess all available information and act in the best interests of everyone involved.
Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the conflict in the region at this difficult time.”
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