Ongoing military conflicts in the Middle East have severely disrupted international air travel, leaving several cricket teams stranded in India for several days. Players from England, South Africa, and the West Indies found themselves in a near “lockdown” situation, unable to return home after their recent matches. That tense period is finally ending, as the International Cricket Council (ICC) has arranged special chartered flights to facilitate their departure.
According to ESPNcricinfo, England, who lost to India in Thursday’s semi-final, will depart Mumbai this Saturday evening, heading directly to London. Meanwhile, South Africa and the West Indies, who had been spending idle days in Kolkata, are scheduled to leave on a separate charter flight on Sunday.
Teams’ Departure Plans
| Team | Departure City | Departure Date | Initial Destination | Subsequent Destination / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | Mumbai | 7 March, Evening | London | Direct flight |
| West Indies | Kolkata | 8 March | Johannesburg, South Africa | Then onward to Antigua |
| South Africa | Kolkata | 8 March | New Zealand | For T20 series starting 15 March |
| Proteas Players (Keshav Maharaj, Jason Smith, George Linde) | Kolkata | 8 March | New Zealand | Key players for T20 series |
The West Indies squad will first travel to Johannesburg, South Africa, before proceeding to Antigua. South Africa’s players have split destinations: key members such as Keshav Maharaj, Jason Smith, and George Linde will fly to New Zealand to participate in the T20 series commencing on 15 March.
Both South Africa and the West Indies had remained in Kolkata following their elimination from the T20 World Cup. South Africa exited after losing to New Zealand in the semi-final on 4 March, while the West Indies were eliminated on 1 March after losing to India in the Super Eight stage.
West Indies head coach Darren Sammy marked the team’s extended stay in India on social media, posting “Day Six” to reflect the unusual delay. For many players, this six-day sojourn in India became an unexpected pause in their schedules.
Zimbabwe faced similar challenges earlier this month. Although their final match in India concluded on 1 March, some team members could only depart on Wednesday, 6 March, highlighting the widespread travel disruption affecting international cricket tours.
With these special flights, the stranded teams are finally able to return home or reach their next series destinations, ending a tense period of uncertainty. The ICC’s intervention underscores the logistical challenges international cricket faces amid global conflicts and demonstrates proactive measures to safeguard players’ timely movements.
