After days of uncertainty caused by travel disruptions linked to the West Asia crisis, players and support staff from the West Indies and South Africa have gradually begun leaving India on commercial flights after repeated delays to an ICC-arranged charter flight following their exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) confirmed that it had begun arranging commercial travel for players and support staff after uncertainty surrounding the chartered flight continued. “As is customary for both men’s and women’s ICC World Cups, all travel and accommodation arrangements for participating teams are coordinated and managed by the ICC,” a CWI statement said.
“The charter flight, intended to transport both the West Indies and South Africa teams, was repeatedly delayed. After completing play, the West Indies squad remained in India for nine (9) days awaiting travel. However, ongoing uncertainty surrounding the ICC-organized charter, as a result of global tensions and aviation regulations, made the situation increasingly distressing.
“In the interest of the well-being and safety of its players and support staff, Cricket West Indies advised the ICC that it was no longer prudent to continue waiting on the charter arrangements, which remain uncertain. Multiple approaches have since been made through CWI, players, and other partners, in coordination with the ICC, to secure commercial travel to facilitate the squad’s safe return. It is important to note that some players and staff have already departed, with the remaining members scheduled to depart today, (Tuesday, 10th March), and tomorrow, (Wednesday, 11th March 2026).
According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), nine members of the West Indies contingent had already begun their journey back to the Caribbean, while the remaining 16 were scheduled to depart India within the next 24 hours. “We will provide updates on further departures as confirmed arrangements are in place,” the ICC said.
“We understand that players, coaches, support staff and their families who have completed their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaigns are anxious to return home. That they have not yet been able to do so is a source of genuine frustration, and the ICC shares that frustration,” the ICC added.
The governing body attributed the delays to the ongoing crisis in West Asia, which it said had caused “widespread and continuing disruption to international air travel,” including airspace closures, missile warnings and sudden flight cancellations.
“These are conditions entirely outside the ICC’s control, and they have made each travel solution significantly more complex and time-consuming than under normal circumstances,” the ICC said.
The charter flight that had originally been arranged to carry both teams from Kolkata was scheduled to depart at 2.30am on March 10, with a stop in Johannesburg before proceeding to Antigua. However, the teams were informed that the flight had been cancelled, and a subsequent attempt to schedule another departure was also scrapped.
In an email to the teams, the ICC explained that airports at the intended destinations had “issued a notice to all charter operators that any ad-hoc charter flight will not be permitted to refuel until further notice. As a result charter is currently unable to take off until this matter is resolved.”
South Africa, who were knocked out of the tournament on March 4, are also expected to leave India beginning Wednesday night. The ICC confirmed that four South African players and five family members had already departed, with the remaining 29 members of the contingent scheduled to leave within the next 24 hours.
The update comes after several players publicly expressed frustration over the delays. South Africa’s Quinton de Kock and David Miller had earlier questioned why England were able to depart earlier while the West Indies and South Africa squads remained stranded in Kolkata awaiting clarity on their travel arrangements.
Responding to the criticism, the ICC said the situations involving different teams were unrelated.
“There is no link between arrangements made in the cases of South Africa and the West Indies and those made previously for England or any other nation, which arose from separate circumstances, routing options and different travel conditions,” the ICC said.
The ICC added that it continues to manage accommodation and other logistical arrangements for the affected contingents while the travel disruptions are resolved.