T20 World Cup – West Indies players may fly home soon by charter flight

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A charter flight is being arranged for the West Indies team to return home from Kolkata, where they have been stuck since being eliminated from the T20 World Cup on March 1. Cricket West Indies (CWI) issued a statement at delivery time on Thursday night, saying the expected departure time of the charter flight would be "within the next 24 hours”, but is subject to final air traffic approval.

CWI said in a statement that the confirmation followed a "high-level call” on Thursday involving CWI, ICC officials, team management representatives and player representatives.

“CWI has been in ongoing dialogue with the players, team management and the International Cricket Council (ICC) since the last match against India,” the statement said. “While the situation remains complex and fluid due to international airspace restrictions arising from security concerns in the Gulf region, CWI reassures the public that every precaution is being taken to ensure the team’s safe return to the Caribbean.”

The West Indies team has been in Kolkata since their Super Eight loss to India and earlier on Thursday, coach Daren Sammy posted on X: "I want to go home.”

He followed up with another post a little later, saying, "At least let me know if there’s an update. Today, tmw, next week. It’s been 5 days.”

West Indies are among the teams stranded in India due to the military conflict in West Asia, which has also led to the cancellation of other matches.

With the usual airspace corridors closed due to the ongoing situation, ICC faced serious logistical challenges in arranging the team’s return flight.

But there was good news for Zimbabwe on Wednesday. The first squad departed for home from Delhi after the ICC rescheduled their travel arrangements.

Like West Indies, Zimbabwe also played their final T20 World Cup match on March 1, losing to South Africa in Delhi. Zimbabwe was originally scheduled to leave the country on March 2, but it was cancelled.

There is no official word on the travel plans of the rest of the squad.

“Zimbabwe Cricket confirms that the Zimbabwe senior men’s team participating in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is returning home from India after the International Cricket Council secured alternative travel arrangements due to recent transport disruptions,” Zimbabwe Cricket said in a statement on Wednesday. “Due to flight availability and route changes, the squad will return to Harare in batches.

"Zimbabwe’s original travel route was via Dubai on an Emirates flight, but this had to be changed. Zimbabwe is now said to be traveling to Harare via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.”

South Africa were knocked out of the semi-finals by New Zealand on Wednesday night and now await their return home. If England lose to India in the second semi-final on Thursday, their return home plans will also have to be in place.

*The article was updated after CWI issued its statement.



Source Link : https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/1526927.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS

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