Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: The final batch of players and support staff from South Africa and West Indies have finally departed India following days of travel uncertainty caused by airspace closures linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on Thursday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The crisis unfolded after airspace over key transit hubs, including Dubai, was shut down amid escalating tensions in West Asia, disrupting international travel routes and leaving the two teams stranded in Kolkata after their campaigns at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.South Africa and West Indies played their final matches of the tournament in Kolkata on March 4 and March 1 respectively, but were unable to leave as scheduled due to widespread flight cancellations and logistical hurdles.
According to the ICC, the remaining members of both contingents have now safely begun their journey home.“Within the past 24 hours, South Africa’s remaining 29 members and the West Indies’ final 16 members have departed on flights to their respective homelands, bringing to a close a complex operation that has taken place under exceptionally challenging global travel conditions,” the ICC said in a statement.The governing body added that its top priority throughout the situation was ensuring the safety of all players and staff while navigating rapidly changing travel conditions.“Ensuring the safe onward travel for all players and staff was the sole aim,” the ICC said, noting that arrangements required constant adjustments as the situation evolved.“Throughout this period, the ICC’s operations and logistics teams have worked continuously with governments, airlines, charter providers, airport authorities and our Member boards to navigate a number of operational disruptions caused by the evolving environment.”While nine West Indies players had earlier managed to depart earlier in the week, the remaining 16 travelled on commercial flights, alongside a 29-member South African contingent.The situation had drawn criticism from several quarters.The ICC’s airline partner Emirates had been unable to operate flights following the closure of airspace over Dubai, which served as a major transit hub for players heading home.
